Conejos is new man to look after OFWs
http://www.manilatimes.net
By Jonathan Vicente, Reporter
NEWLY appointed Foreign Undersecretary Esteban Conejos Jr. on Thursday vowed to strengthen the program for migrant workers to boost protection and morale.
Foreign Secretary Alberto Romulo on Wednesday appointed Conejos as the new undersecretary for migrant workers’ affairs.
Conejos said his main task is to aid overseas Filipino workers, especially those facing problems from their foreign employers.
Conejos replaced Undersecretary Jose Brillantes, who was appointed Philippine ambassador to Canada on December 13, 2005.
President Arroyo signed Conejos’ appointment at Malacañang before Romulo swore him in at the foreign affairs office. Romulo introduced Conejos to the officers and staff of the Office of the Undersecretary for Migrant Workers’ Affairs, headed by Executive Director Pedro Chan.
Romulo stressed that Conejo’s appointment “comes as good news for the hardworking men and women who serve at the frontline of the Department of Foreign Affairs.”
He said the President was optimistic that Conejos’s appointment would give the overseas Filipino workers sustained help from the government.
“The appointment of Conejos truly makes the people in the department the best and the brightest in the Philippine government service,” Romulo quoted the President as saying.
Conejos also thanked the President and Romulo for the “leap of faith they have taken” in his appointment.
Conejos was born in Ormoc City on August 8, 1950. He is married and has three children.
He finished his Master of Laws at Georgetown University in Washington in 1980 and Bachelor of Laws at the Ateneo de Manila University in 1974.
Conejos held former government positions, including Defense undersecretary for operations from 1998 to 2001.
He also became chief legal counsel at the Presidential Commission on Good Government in
1987.