Elissar News

The Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) announced in a statement that Bernardita M. Catalla, the Philippine Ambassador of Philippines to Lebanon, died on dawn of Thursday (12:30 am) in a hospital in Lebanon following complications of the infection by the new Corona virus or the COVID_19, (COVID-19)

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) confirmed this in a statement on Thursday, Catalla is the first diplomat to die of COVID-19.

"With deep sadness, the Department of Foreign Affairs announces the untimely demise on April 2, 2020, of Ambassador Bernardita Catalla, Philippine Ambassador to Lebanon, from complications arising from COVID-19,"Katala has worked in the diplomatic service for 27 years as a professional diplomat.

"The country's service has been a hallmark of Ambassador Katala's career in distinguished foreign service," the Foreign Ministry said.

Katala has worked in key positions in Kuala Lumpur and Jakarta.

The State Department said she also worked as a passport manager, "providing front-line service to millions of Filipinos."

"Before her appointment to Lebanon, Katala, the consul general in Hong Kong, was" looking into the welfare of hundreds of thousands of Filipinos abroad, "and has led the  voluntary mass repatriation program for the Philippine embassy in Beirut since December 2019.

The Department of Foreign Affairs said in its statement: “Bernie, as Ambassador Katalla was being admired by all, offered a helping hand to her family, friends and colleagues.” He added that “her ready smile and contagious laugh may have been extinguished, but her dedication to serving our country will always be a guiding light for all members Philippine foreign service.

Source: globalnation.inquirer.net