The late former Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) secretary Albert del Rosario (Wikipedia)

House Deputy Speaker and Batangas 6th district Rep. Ralph Recto paid sweet tribute to the late former Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) secretary Albert del Rosario on Tuesday, April 18, saying there was "no bolder champion of our sovereignty".

"There was no better advocate of Philippine interest, no braver defender of our OFWs, no bolder champion of our sovereignty than him when he was the Republic's top diplomat," Recto said in a short statement Tuesday afternoon after news of Del Rosario's death came out.

"He was eloquent in speech and refined in manners," the Batangas solon said of the soft-spoken Del Rosario.

"Whether it was to cooperate with governments or contest their actions, he articulated our position in a convincing but dignified way, earning for him the admiration of peers, and for the country the respect of nations," Recto said.

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.