Saudi Gazette report

MANILA — Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday conferred the Order of Sikatuna with the rank of Datu on outgoing Saudi Arabia’s Ambassador to the Philippines Dr. Abdullah Al-Bussairy.

The award is considered to be one of the highest presidential awards given to a foreign national.

President Duterte thanked Ambassador Al-Bussairy for his vital contributions in strengthening bilateral relations over the last six years.

President Duterte also lauded the Saudi envoy for his active role in facilitating repatriation operations during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, local media reported.

He thanked the Kingdom for providing free COVID-19 vaccines to Filipinos living there and extending medical aid to the Philippine health sector.

Ambassador Al-Bussairy thanked the Philippines president for the recognition, saying that it was “a singular honor and distinction” not just for him but for Saudi Arabia as well.