Aquino, VP Binay mourn death of PH ambassador to Pakistan

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Aquino, VP Binay mourn death of PH ambassador to Pakistan
Top leaders of the country convey their condolences to the family of Philippine Ambassador to Pakistan Domingo Lucenario Jr, who died in a helicopter crash in Pakistan

MANILA, Philippines – President Benigno Aquino III and Vice President Jejomar Binay on Saturday, May 9, extended their condolences to the family of Philippine Ambassador to Pakistan Domingo Lucenario Jr, who was one of two envoys killed in a helicopter crash in Pakistan.

“President Aquino expressed sadness and grief on the death of Philippine Ambassador to Pakistan Domingo Lucenario Jr who was among those killed in a helicopter crash in northern Pakistan,” Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr said in a statement Saturday.

The tragedy happened Friday, May 8, when a Pakistani military helicopter crashed into a school north of Pakistan, killing Lucenario and 5 other people. 

The helicopter was one of 3 carrying a delegation of envoys to Pakistan’s Gilgit-Baltistan territory, where they were set to meet with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.

Lucenario and Norwegian Ambassador Leif Larsen were killed, along with the wives of the Malaysian and Indonesian ambassadors, and the helicopter’s two pilots.

‘Outstanding career diplomat’

Aquino is currently on a 3-day state visit to Canada, but the tragic news reached him and his delegation in Ottawa – the first stop of his visit.

“In behalf of the Philippine government and people, he conveyed his sympathy and condolences with Ambassador Lucenario’s family,” Coloma said.

“He said that the Philippines lost an outstanding career diplomat who served his country with distinction for nearly three decades.”

In a separate statement Saturday, Vice President Jejomar Binay also conveyed his condolences to the ambassador’s family.

“I am filled with a profound sense of loss at the tragic and untimely passing of Ambassador Domingo D. Lucenario Jr. He was a great asset to the Philippine Foreign Service and to our country, and I am sure he will be missed dearly,” Binay said.

Lucenario, 54, served the Philippine government for more than 25 years. He was the Philippines’ former ambassador to Kenya.

A lawyer, he “was also the Philippines’ non-resident ambassador to Afghanistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan,” the Department of Foreign Affairs said. – Rappler.com

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