JPE wife appointment papers as envoy to Vatican signed today

MANILA, Philippines – Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile’s estranged wife, Cristina, is taking the ambassadorial post to the Holy See for the “sake of the country” and not as a political favor, sources said.

The senator has refused to discuss the matter saying it was part of their private lives that must be respected.

But according to sources, the senator was dismayed that the appointment was seen as a political concession when Cristina Enrile had long been considered for the job because of her religious and socio-civic activities.

The senator’s estranged wife is particularly involved in Church-related charitable work and is very religious herself.

“If it is for the country, she will take it,” the sources said.

President Arroyo was expected to sign today the appointment papers of Cristina as ambassador to Vatican, diplomatic sources said.

The sources said Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo was awaiting the signing of the appointment papers in Malacañang.

A ranking official of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) confirmed that Cristina Enrile has been appointed ambassador to the Vatican to replace Leonida Vera and is awaiting the agreement (letter of acceptance) from the Holy See.

The estranged wife of Enrile is expected to assume her diplomatic duties once she is accepted by the Vatican as the new envoy.

Diplomatic sources said Vera, who was appointed Philippine ambassador to the Holy See in 2004, resigned from her post to “give way” to her successor who was already chosen by Malacañang but whose appointment still had to be formalized.

Earlier, Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel Jr. supported the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines’ (CBCP) stance on the need to consult them over the appointment of Cristina Enrile as ambassador to the Holy See.

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 had been bypassed.

Pimentel noted that the high-profile background of Senator Enrile might also be scrutinized. The two have long been separated.

Although he expressed support to the CBCP’s stand, Pimentel said he was not necessarily against the appointment of Mrs. Enrile, who is a friend and former schoolmate of his wife, Bing. – Pia Lee-Brago and Aurea Calica