Duterte condoles with Bahrain for death of long-serving PM

(FILES) In this file photo taken on October 16, 2003, Bahrain’s Prime Minister Khalifa bin Salman al-Khalifa arrives at the convention center to attend the opening session of the 10th summit of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC) in Malaysia’s administrative capital Putrajaya. – Bahrain’s Prince Khalifa bin Salman al-Khalifa, the world’s longest-serving prime minister who had held the post since independence in 1971, died on November 11, 2020, at the age of 84, state media announced. “The Royal Court mourns His Royal Highness… who passed away this morning at Mayo Clinic Hospital in the United States of America,” the Bahrain News Agency (BNA) said, adding that the country would enter a week of official mourning. (Photo by HASAN MROUE / AFP)

MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte has extended his condolences to Bahrain and members of the Royal family for the death of long-serving Prime Minister Sheikh Khalifa bin Salman al-Khalifa, who recently died at the age of 84.

In a statement dated Nov. 11, a copy of which was shared with the media on Friday, Malacañang said Khalifa was a “true friend of the Philippines and occupies a special place in the collective memory of the Filipino nation.”

READ: Bahrain PM, world’s longest-serving, dies at 84 – state media

“The Philippines joins Bahrain and the international community in mourning the demise of His Royal Highness Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Bahrain,” Malacañang said.

“President Duterte conveys deepest sympathies to His Majesty, King  Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and the members of the Royal Family and the Government of Bahrain in this time of great sadness and grief,” it added.

The Palace also noted the “development and rapid transformation” of the Bahraini nation for nearly five decades under Khalifa.

“Over the years, and especially during the administration of President Duterte, the Philippines and Bahrain have grown ever closer, with the Kingdom taking its place as one of the Philippines’ closest partners in the Middle East,” the Palace said.

Duterte visited Bahrain in 2017 during a series of state visits to the Middle East.

KGA