22 November 2004 – The Department of Foreign Affairs announces with great sadness the demise on 19 November 2004 of Philippine Ambassador to the People’s Bureau of the Great Socialist People’s Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, H.E. Malik Gubat Marandang.  He was 53 and died while in his foreign posting.

Ambassador Marandang assumed his post as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary at the Philippine Embassy in Tripoli, Libya on 29 January 2004.  Prior to being appointed Ambassador, he served as a Commissioner with the Commission on Human Rights as well in various leadership positions in both the local and national government during a career that spanned 25 years.  He took his Bachelor of Laws as an academic scholar at the Mindanao State University and is also a licensed Shari’a lawyer.

Ambassador Marandang is survived by his wife Hadja Pitagaman Malicapao-Marandang and their three children Janisah, 21 years of age; Monisah, 20 years of age; and Rayhana, 15 years of age.  A native of Balo-i, Lanao del Norte, Ambassador Marandang is the eldest of 11 children.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto G. Romulo conveyed his condolences to the family of Ambassador Marandang and expressed his sincere appreciation for his dedicated service to the Filipino people and Government. END