MANILA, Philippines – Pumanaw na sa edad na 86 si Ambassador Lauro Liboon Baja Jr., ang dating foreign affairs undersecretary for policy at envoy sa United Nations (UN) ng bansa.
Ibinahagi ng pamangkin nito na si Philippine Ambassador to Morocco Leslie Baja, ang balita na pumanaw na ang dating envoy dahil sa heart attack noong Pebrero 8.
Si Baja ay nagsilbing Philippine ambassador to Italy, Brazil, at UN nang maupo sa pwesto sa UN Security Council ang Pilipinas mula 2004 hanggang 2006.
Inirepresenta niya ang Pilipinas sa mga diplomatic conference, kabilang ang Rome conference na nagtatatag ng International Criminal Court, at nagsilbi ring senior official capacities sa Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) at Non-Aligned Movement meetings.
May maaki rin siyang ambag sa pagbuo ng 2002 Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC) at ASEAN Joint Declaration Against Terrorism.
Kinilala rin siya sa pangunguna sa pagpasa ng landmark Resolution 1546, na nagtatatag ng political transition process sa Iraq.
“He served the Department (of Foreign Affairs) and our country exceedingly well and admirably, always with wisdom and eloquence, at key posts during critical times, including as Philippine Permanent Representative when the Philippines last sat at the UN Security Council (2004-2006) and as Undersecretary for Policy when the WPS (West Philippine Sea) issue started to brew,” ayon kay Philippine Ambassador to the Netherlands J. Eduardo Malaya.
“And yet Baja remained humble and self-effacing, and solicitous to young staff members, including myself, when we would be called in to brief him on issues. He would smile and made us feel that our views mattered,” dagdag pa niya. RNT/JGC
