Tuason to represent PH on Pope's installation

THE Philippines will be represented by Manila Ambassador to the Holy See Mercedes Tuason on the formal installation of Pope Francis this week.

In an interview over dzRB Radyo ng Bayan, deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said Tuason would only be the country's representative in the event in case President Benigno Aquino III decides not to send another official to Italy.

"We have not received any official word if the President will be sending anybody else, any representative from Cabinet to represent the Philippines, apart from our Ambassador to the Holy See who is Ambassador Tuason. In the default of any official designation, our Ambassador will be the representative of the Philippine government in the installation of Pope Francis," she said.

Valte said she also asked Cabinet Secretary Jose Rene Almendras and even the Office of Vice President Jejomar Binay if Aquino designated anyone of them to be the country's representative to the installation of the new pope, but both of them never received any official designation.

The 76-year-old Argentinian Cardinal Jorge Mario Begoglio was elected recently as the new pope replacing Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI who resigned from the post. (SDR/Sunnex)