11 March 2015 - Philippine Ambassador to Nigeria Alex V. Lamadrid visited Equatorial Guinea from February 16 to 24. The Ambassador called on the Foreign Minister and other Foreign Affairs officials on February 18 and presented his credentials to the President of Equatorial Guinea on February 19. He also met with industry leaders, conducted overseas voters registration, consular services and Assistance-To-Nationals (ATN) consultations for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in Malabo City and Bata City from February 17 to 23. The Philippine Embassy in Abuja exercises jurisdiction over bilateral relations with Equatorial Guinea. ATN Officer Raymund Ondiano accompanied Ambassador Lamadrid.

Ambassador Lamadrid paid a courtesy call on the Foreign Minister of Equatorial Guinea Agapito Mba Mokuy, at the Foreign Ministry in Malabo on February 18. Ambassador Lamadrid presented the open copies of his letters of credence to the Foreign Minister, after which they discussed bilateral relations between the two countries. In welcoming the Philippine Ambassador to Equatorial Guinea, the Foreign Minister expressed the hope that the shared Spanish colonial heritage of the two countries will provide the impetus for the further strengthening of bilateral relations, especially in education, trade and other areas.

Ambassador Lamadrid, in reply, expressed appreciation to the government of Equatorial Guinea for its warm hospitality to the Philippine delegation, and for the opportunity to his present credentials at this time. The Ambassador conveyed the cordial greetings of Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert F. del Rosario to the Foreign Minister. He recalled the exchange of high level visits between the presidents of Equatorial Guinea and the Philippines in 2006 and 2007, respectively, and expressed hope that the agreements reached during those visits will form the basis for the further strengthening of relations especially in trade, investments, culture, and education, as well as in strengthening parliamentary relations. The Ambassador also expressed appreciation for Equatorial Guinea’s support to the Philippines in multilateral institutions.

The Ambassador also called on the Director General of Protocol, Ambassador Samuel Tung and other protocol officers, who briefed the Ambassador on the details of the presentation of credentials ceremony which was scheduled to take place the following day.

Ambassador Lamadrid and ATN officer Raymund Ondiano likewise met with OFWs based in Malabo and Bata, and conducted consular services, overseas voters registration and ATN consultations. A total of 83 OFWs registered as overseas voters, while some of them availed themselves of e-Passport services, authentication services, and ATN consultations on work-related issues. END