PH Ambassador to Lebanon dies due to complications related to COVID-19
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 2) — Philippine Ambassador to Lebanon Bernardita M. Catalla died on Thursday due to complications related to COVID-19, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) confirmed.
She passed away at 12:30 AM in a hospital in Beirut, Foreign Affairs Secretary Teddy Locsin Jr. tweeted. She was 62.
Catalla is the first career diplomat in service killed by the virus.
She served as the country’s diplomat for 27 years, holding key posts including in Malaysia and Indonesia. She served as Consul General in Hong Kong prior to her assignment in Lebanon.
Catalla had spearheaded the Philippine Embassy’s voluntary mass repatriation program in Beirut since December 2019.
She was also a Passport Director, delivering frontline service to millions of Filipinos, the department said in a statement.
“Bernie, as Ambassador Catalla was fondly called, has always lent a helping hand, to her family, friends and colleagues. Her ever ready smile and infectious laughter may have been extinguished but her dedication to our country will always be there as a guiding light for all members of the Philippine foreign service,” the DFA said.
Amb. Bernardita M. Catalla passed away at 12:30 a.m. in the Beirut hospital where she was confined. I extended her for a great job in a difficult post. I promised her Paris so she'd hang on. But she just laughed, "Now I must learn French." She saw me to say goodbye last March 9.
— Teddy Locsin Jr. (@teddyboylocsin) April 2, 2020
