Draft:J. Eduardo Malaya

Jose Eduardo “Ed” Enciso Malaya III is a Filipino diplomat, lawyer and writer currently serving as Ambassador of the Philippines to The Netherlands, since March 2021. He previously served as Philippine Ambassador to Malaysia from 2011 to 2017 and undersecretary (deputy minister) of the Department of Foreign Affairs from February 2019 to 2021. He was elected in December 2022 as acting President of the Administrative Council of the Permanent Court of Arbitration for term 2023-2024.

Early Life and Education
Malaya was born on 25 March 1962 in Iriga, Camarines Sur to judge Angel S. Malaya and educator Corazon Enciso Malaya, Ed.D. He attended the University of the Philippines Diliman where he obtained both a bachelor’s and a law degree.

Career
A career foreign service officer, Malaya has been working with the Department of Foreign Affairs since 1986. Prior to his assignment in The Hague, he was Undersecretary for Administration from August 2019 to February 2021 and    Assistant Secretary for Treaties and Legal Affairs/Legal Adviser from April 2017 to July 2019, the second time he held the position, the first time being in February 2009 to September 2011,  while concurrently Foreign Affairs Spokesman. He was also previously Ambassador to Malaysia from September 2011 to March 2017, He also earlier served at the Philippine missions in New York, Brussels, Chicago and San Francisco.

Published works and professional affiliations
Malaya has published a number of books and journal articles on treaty law, international law and diplomacy, and history, including “Philippine Treaties in Force 2020” ; “Treaties: Guidance on Practices and Procedures” (2019); “Enhancing International Legal Cooperation: Extradition, Mutual Legal Assistance, Transfer of Sentenced Persons, and Cooperation on Transnational Organized Crimes and Narcotic Drugs” (2019) ; “Stewards of the Nation: Aguinaldo to Duterte and their Inaugural Visions” (2018) ; “Forging Partnerships: Philippine Defense Cooperation in Constitutional and International Laws” (2017) ; and “Frontlines of Diplomacy: Conversations with Philippine Ambassadors” (2011).

He is Vice President of the Philippine Society of International Law (since 2017) and a Member of the Editorial Board of the Philippine Yearbook of International Law (since 2017). He was elected to the Executive Council of the Asian Society of International Law in August 2021.

In December 2022 Malaya was elected as acting President of the Administrative Council of the Permanent Court of Arbitration for the term 2023-2024. The PCA Administrative Council created the position of acting President to act “in the absence of the President” who is nominally the Netherlands Foreign Minister, at the Council’s 201st Meeting held on 16 December 2019. The Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP), the national organization of lawyers, issued a statement stating that the “appointment is a recognition of (Malaya’s) exemplary record in diplomacy and government service” and “as the first Filipino national to serve at the helm of the Administrative Council of the PCA, the IBP and the Philippine legal community expresses their pride and happiness in Ambassador Malaya’s election.

Awards and Recognition
Honors and titles conferred on Malaya in recognition of his distinguished service to the Republic of the Philippines include:


 * Order of Sikatuna with rank of Datu (Gold Distinction) (2010)
 * Gawad Mabini (Order of Mabini) with the rank of Dakilang Kamanong (Grand Cross) (2016) in recognition for his efforts in setting up alternative learning centers for Filipinos and other migrant children in Sabah.
 * Commendation from the Congress of the Philippines (House Resolution No. 34 dated 25 January 2017) for his “pro-active work, community outreach and leadership” as Philippine Ambassador to Malaysia, including for the long-sought renovation of the Embassy chancery building
 * University of the Philippines Distinguished Alumnus Award (2018)

Personal Life
Malaya is married to Rena Cristina Koa-Malaya, MD. They have three children.