Former Foreign Secretary and Philippine Ambassador to the United States Albert F. del Rosario has passed away at the age of 83. The former diplomat and businessman, who told PeopleAsia that he believes “right is might” when it comes to foreign policy, is best remembered for his key role in securing the landmark Hague ruling, which invalidated China’s claims in the West Philippine Sea.
“As a result of our principled position, the Philippines has been able to gain significant support from the international community,” he told writer Pia Lee-Brago in an interview for PeopleAsia, when he was named as one of the magazine’s “People of the Year” awardees in 2014.
The interview took place a year after the Philippines had filed a case against China to challenge the validity of Beijing’s nine-dash line claim to almost the entire South China Sea (SCS), including the West Philippine Sea (WPS) and Beijing’s unlawful activities. Del Rosario had invited China to bring their claim to the International Tribunal on the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) for a legal and lasting solution to the territorial dispute, but China rejected the Philippine invitation.
On July 12, 2016, the Arbitral Tribunal in the South China Sea Arbitration unanimously voted in favor of the Philippines. And while China has since rejected the ruling, many see it as a possible cornerstone for the peaceful resolution of the conflict.
Del Rosario’s foray into public service and diplomacy began when he was appointed by former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo as Philippine Ambassador to the United States in 2001. In February 2011, President Benigno S. Aquino III appointed him as Foreign Affairs Secretary.
Prior to joining the government in 2004 and 2011, del Rosario’s career in the private sector, overseeing various industries, had already blossomed. The same went for his life as a philanthropist, having served in various capacities in non-profit organizations such as the Cultural Center of the Philippines Foundation, Inc., Management Association of the Philippines and Makati Business Club, to name a few.
Asked about what foreign policy advice he heeded the most, del Rosario told PeopleAsia: “I would say, right is might,” before further explaining that this embodies the fundamental concept of espousing “a principled Philippine foreign policy, and of protecting Philippine national interest and sovereignty, in accordance with the rule of law.”
