NEWS BRIEFS

VIDAL: POPE FRANCIS IS VERY KIND TO ALL

Although still tired from his trip to Rome, Ricardo Cardinal Vidal, archbishop emeritus of Cebu took time to talk about his encounter with Pope Francis.

“When I talked with the Holy Father, he told me ‘yes you pray for me and God bless the Filipino people,” Vidal told reporters yesterday.

The 82-year-old prelate lauded Pope Francis’ attitude toward officials of the Catholic Church as well as the lay persons.

“The Holy Father is very kind to all. He is so gentle and so very approachable,” Vidal said.

Reporters didn’t ask Vidal many questions since he was nursing a fever.

The Pope’s appeal was relayed byl Vidal who took part in the preparations to elect the new pope as well as the succeeding events in Rome.

When he invited Pope Francis to visit the Philippines, Vidal said the Holy Father replied “We will see.”/Reporter Ador Vincent Mayol

RELEASE OF SENIOR CITIZEN’S AID TO PUSH THROUGH

Despite two key department heads calling in sick, Mayor Michael Rama said the March 25 – 26 release of senior citizen’s aid will push through.

City Accountant Diwa Cuevas and Acting City Treasurer Emma Villarete are on sick leave, with Cuevas in the hospital the past two days.

“Anyone can be sick, take a leave. But that should not create a problem for governance,” said Mayor Michael Rama when sought for comment on Cuevas and Villarete’s absence.

The release of the first tranche, amounting to P4,000 of the P10,000 annual cash aid to senior citizens will not be affected said Rama.

He said that in Villarete’s absence, City Administrator Jose Marie Poblete, is now leading preparations for the distribution of senior citizen assistance on Monday. Poblete for his part said Villarete managed to sign the payroll amounting to P200 million for the release of the senior citizen assistance before she went on leave.

In fact, they already encashed the check for distribution to senior citizens in the north district. The two city government officials went on sick leave a few days before the city government was scheduled to release the P4,000 financial assistance to 60,000 senior citizens./Chief of Reporters Doris C. Bongcac