MANILA, May 17 (Xinhua) -- The Philippine Commission on Appointments confirmed on Wednesday the appointment of Senator Alan Peter Cayetano as secretary of foreign affairs.

The commission's swift confirmation of Cayetano came a week after he was officially appointed by President Rodrigo Duterte who announced Cayetano's appointment on May 10.

The decision to approve Cayetano's nomination will be referred for plenary action later Wednesday afternoon for formality.

Cayetano, 46, a politician and a staunch ally of Duterte, was Duterte's running mate in the May 2016 elections.

Cayetano has been a lawmaker since 1998 when he was first elected in the House of Representatives. In July 2007, he was elected as member of the Senate. His term ends in 2019.

Cayetano is the third in the family to become a member of Congress. His sister, Pia, was first elected senator in 2004, and his father, Renato, was senator from 1998 to 2003.

Currently, his wife Maria Laarni serves as mayor of Taguig City in Metro Manila. She was also a former member of the House of Representatives.