Press Release
May 12, 2015

Senate expresses condolences to Nepal,
Filipino ambassador's family

The Senate adopted today a resolution expressing the nation's deepest sympathy and condolences to the people of Nepal for its recent loss of human lives and destruction of properties.

Senator Manuel "Lito" Lapid, who introduced Resolution 1301, said the "Philippines stands as one with Nepal as it grieves for its devastating loss."

A 7.8 magnitude earthquake and several aftershocks rocked Nepal and its neighboring countries last April 25. Cable News Network (CNN) pegged Nepal death toll at 8,019 as of May 10. According to Nepal's National Emergency Operations Center, 17,866 people are injured in the quake while 366 remain missing.

The Center estimated that more than 10 percent of the Nepal's homes were destroyed (299,588) or damaged (269,107).

The Senate also adopted Resolution 1328, introduced by Senator Manuel "Lito" Lapid, taking into consideration Resolution 1329, introduced by Senator Cynthia Villar, expressing condolences to the family of Philippine Ambassador to Pakistan Domingo Lucenario Jr., who died in a helicopter crash at Naltar Valley, Pakistan last May 8.

Lucenario was on his way to attend a three-day excursion with 10 other foreigners when the helicopter he was riding crashed. Authorities are currently investigating whether the crash is caused by mechanical failure or due to a terrorist attack by Pakistani Talibans.

"Lucenario's untimely demise, without a doubt, is an immense loss to us, and the Senate joins the nation and his family in their moment of mourning for the loss of a distinguished public servant," Villar said in her resolution.

In his resolution, Lapid extolled Lucenario's accomplishments, pointing out that he was "the only Filipino career diplomat who had the rare distinction of having been awarded with three major Presidential awards for his exceptional and meritorious stint in the foreign service."

Lucenario was awarded the Order of Sikatuna with the rank of Datu (Gold level) in 2009, the Order of Lakandula with the rank of Grand Officer (Maringal na Pinuno) in 2008 and the Gawad Mabini award with the rank of Grand Officer (Dakilng Kamanong) also in 2008.

Prior to his appointment as ambassador to Pakistan in 2012, Lucenario served as ambassador to Kenya and the Philippine non-resident envoy to Burundi, Comoros, Republic of Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Malawi, Madagascar, Mauritius, Rwanda, Seychelles, Uganda, Somalia and Tanzania. He was the Philippine Permanent Representativ e to the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) and the United Nations Human Settlements Program (UN Habitat).

Lucenario was noted for his work as project manager of the Philippine machine readable/e-passport program which allowed Filipinos to travel internationally with ease. H also handled several other special projects and positions in the Department of Foreign Affairs including chairman of the National Committee on Illegal Entrants (NCIE), chairman of the Inter-Agency Committee on Passport Irregularities (ICPI), Assistant Secretary General of the National Organizing Committee on the ASEAN Summit of 2007, the Global Forum on Migration and Development of 2008 and the Special Ministerial Meeting on the Non-Aligned Movement in 2009.

Lucenario earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in political science, magna cum laude, from the Manuel L. Quezon University and obtained his Bachelor of Laws degree in 1984 from San Beda College.

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