MANILA, Philippines – Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel Jr. yesterday supported the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP)’s stance on the need to consult them over the appointment of Cristina Ponce Enrile as ambassador to the Holy See.
Pimentel gave credence to concerns aired by Caloocan Bishop Deogracias Iñiguez Jr., chairman of the CBCP public affairs, on the need to consult local Church leaders over Mrs. Enrile’s appointment to the Vatican as the replacement of Leonida Vera, who has resigned as ambassador even before the government announced her replacement.
“I think there are some problems on her appointment. As I read in the newspapers, Bishops Iñiguez, Ledesma and Oscar Cruz have expressed that they should have been consulted,” said Pimentel, who is also a Catholic lay minister.
Pimentel said the DFA should start a consultation process with Catholic leaders before appointing an ambassador to the Holy See, so that the bishops would not feel they have been bypassed.
“The post of the ambassador to the Vatican is one of the most important postings in our embassies…so there is bearing to whatever our bishops say,” he added.
Pimentel, a human rights victim and lawyer, noted that the high-profile background of Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile, Cristina’s ex-husband, may also be scrutinized.
“Since Enrile is a ‘high profile politician’ since the Marcos years, this would have an impact on that appointment,” Pimentel said, referring to Enrile’s background as one of the architects of martial law during the term of former President Ferdinand Marcos.
Although he expressed support to the CBCP’s stand, Pimentel said he is not necessarily against the appointment of Mrs. Enrile, who happens to be a friend and former schoolmate of his wife, Bing.
“I don’t know Cristina Ponce Enrile personally but my wife Bing knows her. I am not in a position to judge her because a person is different from her husband,” the minority leader said. “Kung may kasalanan ba si Manong Johnny, e kasalanan ni Cristina?”
Over the weekend, the CBCP received a letter from Vera informing the prelates that she resigned from her post.
Vera supposedly tendered her resignation letter after sensing that Malacañang was to replace her with Mrs. Enrile, who was reportedly endorsed by presidential assistant on religious affairs Fatima Valdes.
Meanwhile, Iniguez asked Malacañang to consult leaders of the local Church hierarchy in appointing a replacement for Vera.
“Although it is not necessarily required for them to do that, I think it will be of much help if the ambassador to the Vatican gets the backing of the bishops,” Iniguez said.
Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye admitted in an interview that “there is a recommendation (to appoint)” but refused to go into details.
But Bunye stressed there was nothing official yet on Vera’s resignation and appointment of Mrs. Enrile.