Indonesian Ambassador to the Philippines Agus Widjojo passed away at a hospital in his home country, the Indonesian embassy in Manila announced Monday, Feb. 9.
Widjojo died Sunday at the Gatot Soebroto Army Hospital Jakarta at around 8:15 p.m., the embassy added. He was 78.
"The Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia in Manila is deeply saddened to share the passing of H. E. Agus Widjojo, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Indonesia to the Republic of the Philippines, the Republic of Marshall Islands and Republic of Palau," the embassy said.
"May he rest in peace," it added.
Widjojo was Indonesia's sitting envoy in Manila in a stint that started in 2021. Before his posting in the Philippines, he served as the deputy commissioner of Indonesia - Timor Leste Truth and Friendship Commission from 2005 to 2008, and the governor of Indonesia's Presidential Work Unit Management and Reform Programs from 2006 to 2009.
His other notable appointment was being the vice chairman of the People's Consultative Assembly of the Military and Police Faction in 2001.
Widjojo's ambassadorship focused on his optimistic goals. Once, during a media briefing, he said the shared challenges that Jakarta and Manila were facing could "be transformed into opportunities through innovation."
He also stressed the need for regional collaboration to enhance competitiveness, saying that "rather than competing, it’s better if we blend together and form a stronger economic entity. "