New York, 19 April 2017 -- Ambassador Teodoro L. Locsin Jr. presented his credentials to the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres as the new Philippine Permanent Representative to the UN in brief ceremonies at the UN Headquarters in New York today. 

 

In the brief meeting that followed, Secretary-General Guterres expressed great pleasure in receiving Amb. Locsin in his capacity as Philippine Permanent Representative, and cited the excellent cooperation between the UN and the Philippines as well as the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), which the Philippines currently chairs.  He noted in particular the Philippines’ leadership in addressing issues relating to migration and the protection of refugees.

 

The Secretary-General also said the UN was following the Philippine peace processes with great interest, and expressed the hope that it will succeed.  He reiterated the UN’s commitment to support the peace processes and assured Ambassador Locsin that his office was at his disposal for further cooperation in other fields.

 

Ambassador Locsin expressed particular interest in expanding the Philippines’ participation in the UN’s peace-keeping missions, saying that it “brings out the best qualities of my people.”

 

Ambassador Locsin serves as the 20th Philippine Permanent Representative to the UN, of which the Philippines is a founding member. 

 

A lawyer by profession and a journalist by trade, Ambassador Locsin holds a Master of Laws from Harvard Law School, and was editorial writer of the The Philippines Free Press until its closure by martial law in 1972. It was established in 1908. He has been a newspaper publisher, editorial writer, and co-anchor and host of a number of national broadsheets and radio and TV news shows.  He was publisher of Today and Globe newspapers, host and co-anchor of TV shows “Teditorial”, “The Assignment” and “Points of View,” and co-anchor of radio shows “Executive Session” and “Karambola”.  He was also editorial writer of the Philippines Free Press after its revival and remains a columnist of the business daily BusinessMirror.

 

In government, he served as legal counsel and speech writer to President Corazon Aquino, and speechwriter to Presidents Joseph Estrada and Gloria Arroyo. He was also elected to the Philippine House of Representatives, where he represented the First District of Makati City from 2001 to 2010 co-authoring legislation such as the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism, Special Purpose Asset Vehicle and Automated Election laws.

 

 

 

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