President Rodrigo Roa Duterte receives the credentials of Ambassador-Designate of Cambodia, Leng Chanvirak, during a ceremony at the Malacañan Palace on December 12, 2018. ALFRED FRIAS/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO
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President Rodrigo Roa Duterte on Wednesday, December 12, received the credentials of Ambassador-designates to the Philippines from the Kingdom of Cambodia and the Kingdom of Spain, in a ceremony held at the Reception Hall of the Malacañan Palace.

First to submit his credentials to the President was Cambodian Ambassador Leng Chanvirak.

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“Your Excellency I most welcome you to the people’s Palace. I am honored by your visit and I’m glad that you passed by me before you go back home to your country. And before I forget, kindly express my warmest to Prime Minister Hun Sen and the King of Cambodia,” President Duterte said.

Before his appointment to Manila, Ambassador Chanvirak worked as the General Inspector of the Inspectorate General from the Ministry of Foreign Affair and International Cooperation (MFAIC) until 2016.

He received several recognitions for the outstanding performance of his duty and dedication to his work. Among those notable awards are the Royal Order of Cambodia (Grand Cross) and the Gold Medal of Labor, awarded particularly for his role in the successful hosting of the ASEAN Foreign Ministers Meeting in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

Accompanying the envoy were his wife Hor Kimsrom, Mr. Khim Kanal, First Secretary of the Embassy of the Kingdom of Cambodia, Ms. Hul Thonnak, Second Secretary of the Embassy of the Kingdom of Cambodia, Ma Navy, Diplomatic Attaché, and Ung Porguech, Ambassador’s Assistant.

Meanwhile, President Duterte also received the credentials of Ambassador Jorge Moragas Sanchez of the Kingdom of Spain.

“Your Excellency, welcome to the Philippines. I’m happy to see you. I believe that you are — there’s a little bit of an Ilocano in you. And we are happy to see you,” President Duterte remarked pertaining to Ambassador Sanchez’s mother who was born in Baguio City.

“The relations between Spain and the Philippines are marked by principles of friendship, mutual respect, equality, and also depth. Depth, I say depth because not only have we shared cultural and historical ties, but also today Spain has chosen the Philippines as the center of its historic policy in Asia,” Ambassador Sanchez said.

As for his personal ties to the Philippines, the envoy shared that his mother was born in Baguio and his grandfather died and was buried in the country. He first came to the Philippines on December 25, 1978. After 40 years, he said he continues to feel “at home” in the Philippines and he still has several cousins living here. (PCOO)

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