Philippines Ambassador visits LDS church in Tonga [1]
Wednesday, June 28, 2017 - 19:00. Updated on Wednesday, June 28, 2017 - 19:01.
The Ambassador of the Philippines to New Zealand, H.E. Jesus Domingo, visited the Kingdom last week. His visit was unannounced by the Tonga Government but reported by the LDS church who greeted and welcomed Mr Domingo to their stake.
According to a press release from the LDS church, Mr Domingo visited the LDS Tonga Service Centre in Nuku’alofa where he met with LDS representatives. They discussed travel requirements for Tongan missionaries entering the Philippines, and informed the Ambassador about humanitarian and educational programs organised by the church in Tonga and the Pacific.
Catholic country
The Philippines is one of only two predominantly Roman Catholic nations in Asia (the other being East Timor), and is the third largest Roman Catholic country in the world (after Brazil and Mexico).
The current President of the Philippines Rodrigo Duterte gives vocal support to extrajudicial killings of drug users and other criminals. He promised to reduce crime by killing tens of thousands of criminals. Duterte’s speeches are often loaded with profanity, threats and jokes about taboo subjects, which offend some, but are taken lightly by many Filipinos. He has been accused of verbally abusing the Pope.