By James A. Loyola
Former Ambassador Albert F. del Rosario has resigned as a non-executive director of the First Pacific Company Limited of Hong Kong, the controlling shareholder of PLDT, Inc. and Metro Pacific Investments Corporation, effective July 1, 2019.
In a disclosure to the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, First Pacific said Del Rosario resigned “due to poor health as he approaches the age of 80 years and other constraints, such as, his increased involvement in a number of personal advocacies which makes it difficult for him to continue to serve as a director of the Company.”
The former Philippine Foreign secretary was refused entry recently by Hong Kong authorities at the airport despite his use of a diplomatic passport.
He had filed a case for crimes against humanity before the International Criminal Court against Chinese President Xi Jinping over the West Philippine Sea issue.
“The Board would like to express its profound thanks to Ambassador del Rosario, who has been a source of invaluable counsel to the Company during his tenure,” First Pacific said.