MALACAÑANG — President Rodrigo Roa Duterte on Monday, April 8, received the Ambassador of the Argentine Republic to the Philippines José Néstor Ureta as the latter paid a farewell call on the Chief Executive for completing his term as Argentina’s diplomat in the country.

During the call at the Malacañan Palace, the President expressed his gratitude to the outgoing ambassador for his committed efforts in further strengthening cooperation between the Argentine Republic and the Republic of the Philippines to advance peace, progress, and prosperity and for bringing closer the people of the two countries in greater friendship, understanding, and mutual respect.

Ambassador Ureta started serving in the Philippines in August 2018.

The diplomat was previously posted at the Embassy of Argentina in Canada, where he served as Chargé d’Affaires.

Ambassador Ureta was also political counselor at the Argentine Embassy in Rome, Italy before representing his country as ambassador to Nigeria.

He is also a lawyer and a member of the Argentine Association of International Law.

He was known to be very active in the local diplomatic circle, promoting Argentina’s many cultural achievements.

Also present during the farewell call were Foreign Affairs Acting Secretary Enrique Manalo, Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary Maria Lumen Isleta, Foreign Affairs Executive Director Jaime Ramon Ascalon Jr., and Foreign Affairs Acting Director Analyn Ratonel.

Accompanying the Argentine envoy was his spouse, Madame Adriana Clorinda Tomas.

President Duterte receives JICA President and Japanese Ambassador in a courtesy call

After his meeting with the Argentine Ambassaor, the President welcomed Dr. Shinichi Kitaoka, President of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and H.E. Koji Haneda, Ambassador of Japan to the Philippines, in a Palace courtesy call.

During their meeting, Dr. Shinichi Kitaoka and Ambassador Haneda thanked the President for extending a warm welcome.

Accompanying Dr. Kitaoka and Ambassador Haneda were Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Director General Shigenori Ogawa, JICA Office of the President Deputy Chief Secretary Izuru Kimura, JICA Philippines Chief Representative Yoshio Wada, JICA Philippines Senior Representative Kiyo Kawabuchi, and JICA Philippines Senior Representative Yo Ebisawa.

Also present during the courtesy call were Department of Finance Secretary Carlos Domiguez, Foreign Affairs Acting Secretary Enrique Manalo, National Economic and Development Authority Undersecretary Adoracion Navarro, and other officials from DFA and DOF. ###PND