President Duterte conferred the Order of Sikatuna with the rank of Grand Cross (Datu) gold distinction
on outgoing Singaporean Ambassador to the Philippines Kok Li Peng during her farewell call in Malacañang Friday.
Malacañang said that the Order of Sikatuna with the rank of Grand Cross (Datu) gold distinction was awarded on the ambassador because of her contributions in strengthening the ties of the two Asian countries.
“The Singaporean envoy was awarded the Order of Sikatuna with the rank of Grand Cross (Datu) gold distinction because of her significant contributions in further strengthening and deepening the cordial relations between the Republic of the Philippines and Singapore, as well as her key role in ‘facilitating high-level visits between the Philippines and Singapore, including the successful state visit of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte to Singapore in 2016,'” Malacañang said.
Duterte commended the Singaporean envoy for her sustained support to the continuing enhancement of the capacity-building program and people-to-people exchanges under the auspices of the Singapore Cooperation Program.
The farewell call was witnessed by Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, Trade and Industry Secretary Ramon Lopez, Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Ernesto Abella, Department of Foreign Affairs Asian and Pacific Affairs Assistant Secretary Meynardo Montealegre, DFA-ASPAC Executive Director Joel Ignacio, and DFA-ASPAC Director Marford Angeles.
Deputy Chief of Mission Zhou Suli and Political First Secretary Tettyana Jasli accompanied the ambassador.
Before her appointment as ambassador to the Philippines, Kok Li Peng was deputy permanent representative in the Singapore Mission to the United Nations.
She was also the Director General for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in the Singapore Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Kok Li Peng became envoy to the Philippines, her first posting as an ambassador, three years ago. (Argyll Cyrus B. Geducos)