Philippine congressional commission confirms appointment of envoy to U.S.

MANILA, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- The Philippine congressional Commission on Appointment confirmed on Wednesday the appointment of newspaper columnist and media executive Jose Manuel Romualdez as Philippine ambassador to the United States.

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte named Romualdez, 69, as envoy to the United States in December last year. But Romualdez declined the appointment due to health reasons.

Duterte reappointed Romualdez again last month, a move welcomed by U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines Sung Kim who congratulated him on his nomination. "Warm congratulations to my good friend," Kim said after he learned about Romualdez's renomination.

Romualdez writes a column for the Philippine Star.