Del Rosario a 'true champion of PH democracy and sovereignty', says House leader
The late former Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) secretary Albert del Rosario (MANILA BULLETIN)
"A true champion of Philippine democracy and sovereignty." That's how House Majority Leader and Zamboanga City 2nd district Rep. Mannix Dalipe described former Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) secretary Albert del Rosario, who passed away Tuesday, April 18, at the age of 83. "My deepest condolences to the family of former foreign affairs secretary Albert Del Rosario," Dalipe said in a statement Tuesday afternoon, as he joined his House colleagues in paying tribute to the late diplomat. "I have known Secretary Del Rosario as a true champion of our democracy and sovereignty having been one of one of the prime movers of our bid to secure the position of the UNCLOS in relation to our claims in the West Philippine Sea (WPS)," he said. UNCLOS stands for United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. "While we have differed on many national issues, I have always admired Secretary Del Rosario for being a genuine statesman and a true Filipino patriot," Dalipe added. Del Rosario served as DFA chief under the late former president Benigno S. Aquino III. He was instrumental in pursuing the Philippines' case against China’s expansive maritime claims, which ultimately resulted in a favorable ruling for Manila by the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) in July 2016. The PCA ruling invalidated China's nine-dash line claim, which encompassed much of the WPS.