The Philippine Online Chronicles

US President Barack Obama has nominated a new envoy to the Philippines to possibly replace outgoing ambassador Kristie Kenney.

Pending Senate approval, Harry K. Thomas Jr. will take Kenney's place. Thomas is a career diplomat who served as ambassador to Bangladesh from 2003 to 2005, an Agence France-Presse report in inquirer.net said. Other places he has been posted include India, Nigeria, Peru and Zimbabwe.

Most recently, Thomas served as Director General of the Foreign Service and Director of Human Resources, a White House statement said.

Aside from Kenney, Obama has also announced in a statement his intent to name David Adelman as ambassador to Singapore.

Adelman, inquirer.net noted, is a "close political ally" of the US president.

“These individuals will represent our nation well and work to fulfill the important goal of strengthening our relationships abroad. I look forward to working with them in the coming months and years," GMAnews.tv quoted Obama.

Learning of the approaching end of Kenney's service in the country, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) praised her "for her efforts and support to the Mindanao peace process," mindanaoexaminer.com reported.

“She could have stayed longer in the Philippines. She has contributed a lot in the peace process and Ambassador Kenney would be remembered well by the Bangsamoro people for her sincerity and untiring efforts and contribution to the peace talks between the MILF and the Philippine government,” senior MILF member Eid Kabalu told mindanaoexaminer.com.

"It will be very hard to leave here. Fortunately, that won't happen for a few more months. But my family needs me at home so I can't stay away much longer. I will hate to leave the Philippines but my family needs me back home and I need to be there for them," GMAnews.tv quoted Kenney's Facebook account.

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