Marcos expresses condolences to Thailand on passing of Thai princess

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. extended condolences Saturday on behalf of the Philippines to the people of Thailand on the passing of Princess Bajrakitiyabha Narendira Debyavati, the eldest child of Thai King Maha Vajiralongkorn.

Marcos conveyed his condolences a day after the Thai royal palace announced the princess' passing. She battled multiple health problems amid nearly four years in coma.

"On behalf of the Government of the Republic of the Philippines and the Filipino people, I extend my deepest condolences to His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn, the Royal Family, and the people of Thailand on the passing of Her Royal Highness Princess Bajrakitiyabha Narendira Debyavat," Marcos said in a statement.

Bajrakitiyabha, popularly known as Princess Pa, was hospitalized in December 2022 after losing consciousness due to a heart condition.

Her health worsened following an intra-abdominal infection, colitis, low blood pressure, arrhythmias, and blood clotting disorders.

She was one of King Vajiralongkorn's three children who have formal titles and would have been eligible to take the throne under the constitution.

Marcos highlighted her role as a public servant who left a positive impact on her people.

"Her lifelong dedication to public service and her commitment to justice, human dignity and women's rights leave an enduring legacy that will be remembered by the Thai nation and admired by the international community," Marcos said.

According to a Reuters report, Bajrakitiyabha worked to improve the plight of female prisoners, and built a diplomatic career.

She also founded a charity promoting the rights of female inmates, particularly those who were pregnant while in jail.

From 2012 to 2014, she was Thailand's ambassador to Austria, Slovenia and Slovakia, before returning to the attorney-general's office in Bangkok.

In 2017, Bajrakitiyabha was appointed as the goodwill ambassador for the rule of law in Southeast Asia by the United Nations Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice.

She transferred to the army in 2021, where she was bestowed the rank of a general and served as a chief of staff in the Royal Security Command.

"The Philippines stands in solidarity with the people of Thailand in mourning this profound loss and in honoring the remarkable legacy of Her Royal Highness," Marcos said.

The Reuters report also said the Thai government is expected to declare a period of national mourning. — VDV, GMA News