Marcos swears in Tess Lazaro as DFA secretary

President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr. on Tuesday morning administered the oath of office to Maria Theresa "Tess" Lazaro as secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs. 

Marcos also conferred the Order of Sikatuna Grand Cross (DATU) to Lazaro over her strategic roles in advancing Philippine interests in critical foreign policies. 

Lazaro replaced Enrique Manalo, who was appointed to his former post as Philippine Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York. 

A seasoned career diplomat, Lazaro, 66, negotiated a landmark agreement with China on a provisional arrangement for the Philippine delivery of supplies to Filipino forces at Ayungin Shoal (Second Thomas Shoal) to prevent a repeat of past confrontations.

She is also the second female career diplomat appointed to head the DFA after Delia Domingo Albert in 2003.—AOL, GMA Integrated News