Marcos Jr. awards Order of Sikatuna to ex-UN envoy, ex-DFA exec

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. awarded the Order of Sikatuna with the rank of Datu (Grand Cross), Gold Distinction, to retired Philippine Permanent Representative to the UN Antonio Manuel Lagdameo and former Foreign Affairs chief coordinator Bernadette Therese Fernandez.

The conferment ceremony for the national order of diplomatic merit was held at the Study Room in Malacañan Palace.

The rank of Datu is the second highest in the Order of Sikatuna, with Raja (Grand Collar) being the highest, reserved for heads of state or government.

Lagdameo, who retired, was appointed the country's permanent representative to the UN in September 2022 and was succeeded by former Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo.

He campaigned for the Philippines to secure a non-permanent seat in the United Nations Security Council during his tenure.

Lagdameo previously served as Philippine ambassador to London, the United Kingdom, and Northern Ireland, as well as to Madrid, Spain and Andorra.

Fernandez's appointment as the Philippine Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Republic of Korea was confirmed by the Commission on Appointments last June.