Ex-DFA chief Del Rosario quits First Pacific board

Former Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert Del Rosario. (File photo by LYN RILLON / Philippine Daily Inquirer)

MANILA, Philippines – Former Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario, who was recently denied entry to Hong Kong, has stepped down as non-executive director of conglomerate First Pacific Co. Ltd. effective July 1.

In a disclosure to the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, First Pacific said Del Rosario had resigned “due to poor health as he approaches the age of 80 years.” Likewise, cited were “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.”

Del Rosario was about to attend a board meeting of First Pacific in Hong Kong when he was barred from entering the territory on June 21.  He was likewise detained and questioned for six hours at the Hong Kong International Airport.

READ: Ex-Foreign Secretary Del Rosario held, questioned at Hong Kong airport

In March, Del Rosario and former Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales filed a case for crimes against humanity before the International Criminal Court against Chinese President Xi Jinping. Carpio-Morales was likewise barred from entering Hong Kong on an earlier occasion.

READ: Morales suffers 4-hour ordeal in Hong Kong

“Ambassador del Rosario confirmed that he has no disagreement with the board and that he is not aware of any matter relating to his resignation that needs to be brought to the attention of the shareholders of the company and The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Ltd. He also confirmed that he has no claims against the Company whatsoever, whether in respect of fees, remuneration or compensation for loss of office,” First Pacific said.

First Pacific’s board, led by businessman Manuel V. Pangilinan, expressed “profound thanks to Ambassador del Rosario, who has been a source of invaluable counsel to the company during his tenure.”

He had been a non-executive director at First Pacific — the controlling stockholder of Philippine firms PLDT, Metro Pacific Investments Corp. and Philex Mining Corp., — since June 30, 2016.

Del Rosario was the former Philippine Secretary of Foreign Affairs from March 2011 to March 2016. He had also served as the Ambassador to the United States of America from 2001 to 2006. (Editor: Jonathan P. Vicente)