Duterte mourns death of UAE President Sheikh Khalifa

A local channel displays the portrait of late UAE’s President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, during a state mourning in Abu Dhabi on May 13, 2022. – UAE’s President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al-Nahyan died aged 73 after a years-long battle with illness, triggering a period of mourning and a handover of power in the oil-rich Gulf state. (Photo by Karim SAHIB / AFP)

MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte has sent his condolences to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) government and its people with the death of their leader President and His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

“The President conveys the Filipino nation’s  solidarity with the UAE in this period of great loss and bereavement,” the Office of Presidential Protocol and Office of Presidential Assistant on Foreign Affairs said in a statement on Wednesday.

“President Duterte recalls His Highness Sheikh Khalifa as a bold visionary whose leadership was crucial in the UAE’s sustained economic transformation and deeper engagement with the international community, including the Philippines,” it added.

Duterte also said His Highness Sheikh Khalifa “will long be remembered even beyond the UAE for his legacy of leadership, wisdom and benevolence.”

According to the statement, Duterte’s sympathy message was “personally conveyed” to United Arab Emirates President His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan through his Special Envoy, Secretary Robert Borje.

His Highness Sheikh Khalifa passed away on May 14 and was succeeded by his half-brother and de facto leader Sheikh Mohammed.

/MUF