Outstanding Aklanon heads DFA’s Intel Unit

KALIBO, Aklan—An Aklanon diplomat has become a source of pride of this province after being named as the head of the Intelligence and Security Unit of the Department of Foreign Affairs.

This after the Commission on Appointments has confirmed the promotion of Dr. Juan Enriquez Dayang to the senior rank of career minister in the foreign service.

Prior to his promotion, Dayang had been assigned as Minister and Consul, and as Charge D’ Affairs of the Philippine Embassy in Prague.

The DFA’s Office of Intelligence and Security is the Department’s primary point of contact with the Philippine National Police and other Philippine law enforcement agencies as well as with the intelligence community on matters related to intelligence and security.

Under the DFA’s Office of Intelligence and Security is the Diplomatic Security Unit which was established in 2012 as part of the Diplomatic Security and Foreign Liaison Section.

With his appointment, Dayang will then serve as the focal person in coordinating with responsible units of the Philippine National Police (PNP) and other Law Enforcement Agencies (LEAs) in fulfilling the Philippines’ obligations in accordance with the Vienna Conventions on Diplomatic and Consular Relations with regard to the security of the diplomatic missions and international organizations.

COLORFUL CAREER AND EDUCATION
Dayang, who is the 2014 Outstanding Young Aklanon and nominee to the prestigious Ten Outstanding Young Men of the Philippines in 2013, marks a colorful career in the foreign service.

From Foreign Service Officer IV in 2000, he made his way to the top after passing several key positions such as Acting Director of the Northeast Asia Division, Office of the Asia-Pacific Affairs; Consul of the Philippine Embassy in Seoul, Korea; Special Assistant of the Office of the Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs; and Director of the Division 1 Summitry and ASEAN Coordinating Council of the Office of ASEAN Affairs.

He obtained his Doctor of Diplomatic Studies, as scholar, at the Australian National University in 2012; Master of Public Administration at the University of Oklahoma in 2009; and Master of Business Administration at Kyung Hee University, also as scholar, in Korea in 1996.

He is the son of couple Ofelia Enriquez and veteran newsman Juan Dayang, former Philippine Graphic publisher and former president of Manila Overseas Press Club and Publishers Association of the Philippines, among others.