NAMATAY sa China si Philippine Ambassador to China Jose Santiago “Chito” Sta. Romana .
Inihayag ito Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) kasabay ng pagpapaabot ng pakikidalamhati sa pagpanaw ng opisyal bagaman’t hindi agad binanggit kung ano ang ikinamatay ng ambassador sa nasabing bansa.
Itinalaga si Sta. Romana noong December 7, 2016 bilang Philippine Ambassador sa China kung saan kinilala ang malalim niyang kaalaman sa kasaysayan ng bansa at ng mga mamamayan nito.
“We are deeply saddened by the passing of Ambassador Jose Santiago L. Sta. Romana due to an illness. Ambassador Jose Santiago L. Sta. Romana is well known for his profound knowledge of China. He worked and lived in China for many years and was our old friend and good friend,” ayon kay Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin’ .
Sa pakikiramay ng China ay inihayag pa ni Wang Wenbin na: “After assuming the post of the Philippine Ambassador to China in 2017, he worked actively and industriously, making important contributions to promoting bilateral relations and friendship between our two peoples. We are deeply grieved by the loss of a good friend and extend our heartfelt condolences to his loved ones. We will work together with his family and the Philippine Embassy in China to properly handle follow-up matters and provide every convenience possible.”
Samantala, nakikipag-ugnayan na ang DFA sa Chinese authorities para sa agarang pag-uuwi sa mga labi ng ambassador dito sa Pilipinas.
“I greatly value our time working together and will always be grateful for his friendship and undeniable contribution to the development of China-Philippines relations,” pahayag naman ni Chinese Ambassador to the Philippine Huang Xilian.”
“I learned with profound sadness of the passing of Philippine Ambassador to China, His Excellency Jose Santiago “Chito” Sta Romana. I extend my deepest condolences to the Ambassador Chito’s family and friends, the Department of Foreign Affairs and the government of the Philippines.
Ambassador Chito was among the first Filipinos to visit the new China when he headed the visiting Philippine Youth Delegation in 1971. Over the past 51 years, starting from a foreign student learning Chinese in Beijing, to ABC’s China correspondent for over 20 years and to Philippine Ambassador to China, Ambassador Chito has spent the best part of his life understanding and helping the world and the Philippines to understand China. China-Philippine relations have been strengthened and indeed flourished under his distinguished tenure as the Philippine Ambassador to China,” malungkot pang pahayag ni Amb. Huang Xilian. (VICTOR BALDEMOR)
