MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines’ honorary consul general in Stockholm, Sweden succumbed to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said Monday.
In a statement, the DFA said Philippine Honorary Consul General in Stockholm Erik Belfrage died of complications arising from COVID-19 on Saturday. He was 74.
Belfrage is survived by his wife Anna, brother Frank and his children.
“The Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs mourns the passing of its valued and esteemed honorary member, and a true friend of the country,” the DFA said.
Belfrage, who was a former diplomat for the Swedish Foreign Service, headed the Philippine Consulate General in Stockholm since 2013.
#DFAStatement: DFA Mourns Passing of Mr. Erik Belfrage, Philippine Honorary Consul General in Stockholm, Sweden: https://t.co/2xgs1YSR4w pic.twitter.com/ApfpMRWidy
— DFA Philippines 🇵🇭 (@DFAPHL) April 20, 2020
“His efforts helped Philippines-Sweden relations expand significantly in the last few years, culminating in both countries’ decision to re-open their respective Embassies – the Embassy of Sweden in Manila in 2016 and the Philippine Embassy in Stockholm set for later this year,” the DFA said.
“He has also helped many Filipinos during his term of service,” it added.
The DFA and the embassy also extended its condolences to Belfrage’s family.