President Rodrigo Roa Duterte on Tuesday, January 9, met with the newly appointed Ambassadors to the Philippines of Timor Leste, Paraguay, Estonia and Malta and received their credentials at the Malacañang Palace.

President Duterte first received the credentials of Jose Gaspar dos Reis Correia Piedade, the new Ambassador of Timor Leste to the Philippines.

Before landing to his new post, Piedade served as Director General of the Ministry of Public Works, Transport and Communication for 15 years.

President Duterte also received the credentials of Paraguay’s new Ambassador to the Philippines, Irineo Raul Silvero Silvagni, who previously served as his country’s Ambassador to the Republic of Korea.

Estonia, meanwhile, appointed Jaak Lensment as its new Ambassador to the Philippines. Prior to his appointment, he served as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Estonian Embassy.

Completing the roster of new ambassadors is His Excellency John Joseph Aquilina of Malta. He previously worked as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Malta to China.

All four new envoys expressed high hopes in forging good working relationship with the Government of the Philippines.

President Duterte, in turn, welcomed the newly appointed ambassadors and extended his expectation that the good relationship of the Philippines to these countries will continue. ### PND