Sponsorship Speech
On the Confirmation of Ms. Ma. Theresa P. Lazaro as Secretary of Foreign Affairs
Delivered by Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada
11 June 2025
Mr. Chairman, esteemed colleagues of the Commission on Appointments:
It is with great pride and utmost confidence that I rise today to sponsor the confirmation of Ms. Ma. Theresa Parreño Lazaro as Secretary of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of the Philippines.
Secretary-designate Lazaro is a paragon of excellence in the Philippine Foreign Service. Her remarkable career, spanning over four decades since she joined the Department of Foreign Affairs in 1984, reflects an unwavering dedication to the service of our country, the protection of our sovereignty, and the advancement of the national interest on the world stage.
Throughout her distinguished career, Ms. Lazaro has held numerous key positions that underscore her capability, experience, and credibility as one of the most respected career diplomats in the country. She served with honor and distinction as Ambassador to the Swiss Confederation, as Ambassador to the French Republic and the Principality of Monaco, and concurrently as Permanent Delegate to UNESCO, where she ably championed Philippine interests in critical bilateral and multilateral fora.
Upon her return to the Home Office, she took on the crucial role of Undersecretary for Bilateral Relations and ASEAN Affairs, later serving as Senior Undersecretary, where she became one of the most senior and trusted officials in the Department. Her tenure in these positions was marked by strategic leadership in regional diplomacy, particularly in ASEAN, where she represented the Philippines in high-level meetings and contributed meaningfully to preparations for our assumption of the ASEAN Chairmanship in 2026.
Among her notable contributions was her pivotal role in managing tensions in the West Philippine Sea, including facilitating arrangements to ensure the continued resupply of Philippine personnel stationed at Ayungin Shoal. She has also worked tirelessly to build regional consensus on the long-standing efforts toward a rules-based Code of Conduct in the South China Sea, demonstrating her capacity for balancing assertive diplomacy with constructive engagement.
Ms. Lazaro’s credentials are equally impressive in the academic sphere. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in International Studies from Miriam College, and a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) from the University of the Philippines Diliman. Her commitment to excellence in public service was recognized in 2016 when she received the Dangal ng Lipi Award, the highest honor conferred by the Province of Bulacan to its most distinguished citizens.
Her record is clear: she has served our nation with competence, dignity, and resolve. In this time of great geopolitical uncertainty, we need a seasoned hand, a strategic thinker, and a firm yet diplomatic voice to lead our foreign policy. Ms. Lazaro brings all these—and more—to the position of Secretary of Foreign Affairs.
Mr. Chairman, Ms. Ma. Theresa Lazaro has proven herself worthy of this critical role. She possesses the gravitas, wisdom, and commitment that the post demands. I therefore respectfully urge this Commission to confirm her appointment as Secretary of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of the Philippines.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.