MANILA, Philippines – Philippine Ambassador to the Vatican Leonida Vera has resigned from her post to “give way” to her successor who has been chosen by Malacañang but whose appointment still has to be formalized, sources at the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said yesterday.
Sources said that Vera, who was appointed Philippine Ambassador to the Holy See in 2004, resigned even before the new ambassador is named.
“Ambassador Vera resigned to give way to her replacement. Although nothing is official as to the new ambassador to replace her in the post, she already knows that she will be substituted,” a source said.
Sources said Cristina Ponce-Enrile, estranged wife of Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile, will replace Vera.
This was allegedly a “concession” between Enrile and Malacañang for supporting the Arroyo administration and administration-backed measures.
“She resigned because of that,” another source said.
The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) received a letter from the envoy to inform the prelates that she has resigned from her post.