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President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo asked members of the diplomatic corps on Wednesday to observe a moment of silence in prayer for the late Press Secretary Cerge Remonde.

In her speech at the annual Vin d’Honneur in Malacañang Wednesday afternoon, the President also extended the Philippines’ sympathy to Haiti, which was struck by a magnitude 7.0 earthquake last January 12.

“Please join me first in a moment of silent prayer for the late Press Secretary Cerge Remonde, who passed away yesterday,” the President said.

Remonde had been found unconscious in the bathroom of his residence in Bel-Air, Makati City. He was rushed to the nearby Makati Medical Center, where doctors tried but failed to revive him. He was 51.

For his part, the dean of the Diplomatic Corps and Papal Nuncio Edward Joseph Adams offered the group’s condolences for the death of Remonde.

“In behalf of my colleagues in the diplomatic corps and myself, I would like to offer heartfelt condolences to Your Excellency at the sudden death of your press secretary, Mr. Cerge Remonde,” Adams said.

“May the Almighty comfort his family to enable them to bear with so great a loss,” he added.

The President, in her speech, noted how the Philippines was in the same predicament several months ago as Haiti is now.

“We also offer our sympathies to the people of Haiti, along with our prayers that they will soon be made whole again,” the President said.

“We know how they feel. A few months ago, we too needed the generosity of the international community after successive typhoons unleashed their wrath on us,” the President said.

“Please extend to your respective governments and agencies the sincere thanks of the Filipino nation for their timely assistance,” she added. (PNA)

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