July 2010 – President Benigno C. Aquino III appointed Erlinda F. Basilio, Rafael E. Seguis and Esteban B. Conejos Jr. as undersecretaries of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).

Their oaths of office were administered by Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto G. Romulo in simple ceremonies held at the DFA today. ”The appointment of these undersecretaries shows the full confidence of President Aquino in our work.  I trust that these undersecretaries carry on the best tradition and practices of the Department, and with team spirit and hard work, we will succeed,” Secretary Romulo said.

Basilio and Conejos were reappointed to their previous positions as Undersecretary for Policy and Migrant Workers’ Affairs, respectively, while Seguis is now Undersecretary for Administration.

“With the objective of promoting national interest, including promoting and protecting the welfare of our overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), and with the help of DFA’s geographic offices, we will pursue the policy directions set by President Aquino,” Undersecretary Basilio said.

For his part, Undersecretary Seguis stated, “I have served the DFA for 46 years and several administrations, from Diosdado Macapagal to her daughter Gloria, and from Corazon Aquino and now her son Benigno III.  I have come full circle, and I will fulfill the expectations set out by the new administration and the public.”

“As long as I am at the Office of Migrant Workers Affairs, the DFA will be at the forefront of providing protection and promoting the welfare of our OFWs,” Undersecretary Conejos said.

Undersecretary Basilio came from the ranks, starting as Foreign Affairs Officer IV in 1970.  She served as Ambassador to Sweden (1997-2003) and Permanent Representative to the Philippine Mission to the United Nations in Geneva (2007-2010).  At the DFA, she served as Assistant Secretary for Asia and Pacific Affairs (1995-1997) and Undersecretary for Policy (2006-2007).

Starting at the DFA in 1962 as a Technical Assistant, Undersecretary Seguis passed the Foreign Service Officers examination in 1973 and also rose from the ranks.  He served as Ambassdor to Iraq (1991-1996), Saudi Arabia (1999-2002) and Indonesia (2003).  At the Home Office, he served as Assistant Secretary for Middle East and African Affairs (1996-1999), and Undersecretary for Special and Ocean Concerns (2003-2010) and concurrently Chairperson of the Government Negotiating Panel for Peace Talks with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

Undersecretary Conejos was appointed as Undersecetary for Migrant Workers Affairs in 2006.  Previously, he was Department of National Defense Undersecretary for Operations (1998-2001). END (photos by: Mark Santos and Benjie Remo, DFA-PISU)