NEW DELHI – Philippine Ambassador to India Josel F. Ignacio visited the Ministry of External Affairs today to honor the late Indian Prime Minister Shri Dr. Manmohan Singh (1932-2024), and to sign the condolence book opened by the Ministry at its headquarters at the Jawaharlal Nehru Bhawan.
He was Prime Minister from 2004 until 2014, and was the 
first Sikh to hold the office. The Government of India has declared a period of national mourning following the demise of the former Premier on 26 December. Tributes have since poured for his service and legacy, particularly in spearheading economic reforms regarded as helping usher in India to its track of rapid growth.
Former PM Singh’s funeral took place on 28 December, with full state honors.
Dr. Singh also contributed to the enhancement of Philippines-India ties. During his incumbency, then President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo received him on his visit to Cebu for the 5th ASEAN-India Summit and the 2nd East Asia Summit on 13-15 January 2007. Later that year, he received President Arroyo on the latter’s State Visit to India on 4-6 October 2007. Leader-level engagement continued into the succeeding administration, with PM Singh meeting then President Benigno S. Aquino III at ASEAN-related meetings, most notably on the sidelines of the 21st ASEAN Summit and Related Summits in Phnom Penh in Cambodia.
During his term, the Indian government also dispatched Indian emergency relief and humanitarian assistance to the Philippines, in the wake of Typhoon Haiyan in November 2013. END
