Press Release No. 040-03
02 February 2003


STATEMENT OF D.F.A. SECRETARY BLAS F. OPLE ON THE LOSS OF THE U.S. SPACE SHUTTLE COLUMBIA


"The Philippine government expresses profound sadness over the loss yesterday morning of the U.S. Space Shuttle Columbia and all of its valiant crew.  They are a loss not only to science but also to all humanity in whose interest they strove to advance the boundaries of knowledge."