As part of the Philippine Embassy’s continuing priority to engage and broaden networking with relevant authorities in New Zealand for the welfare and well-being of more than 40,350 Filipinos across the North and South Islands, Ambassador Virginia H. Benavidez met with Ms. Louise Freyer, Senior Lawyer of the Public Defence Service of the Ministry of Justice to reiterate the gratitude of the Philippine Government for assisting a Filipino in distress whose case was eventually dismissed and is now back in the Philippines.

From the beginning of the case, Honorary Consul General Paulo Garcia has been closely coordinating with Ambassador Benavidez and Vice Consul Glenn Joseph Obach and updating them with the latest information, advice and guidance that Ms. Freyer provided. This enabled the Philippine Embassy to maintain constant communication with the family of the Filipino being attended to and coordinate and facilitate the rendering of consular and legal assistance to the Filipino until the Filipino was repatriated to the Philippines last month.

“We are truly grateful to Ms. Freyer who with sincerity and professionalism and her skill in the law saw to it that the rights of the Filipino were protected and the legal process followed to the Filipino’s best interest. Our heartfelt thanks to Honorary Consul General Garcia whose continuing concern for and service to the Filipino community in Auckland and the surrounding areas in North Island are upright and exemplary,” Ambassador Benavidez stated.

Throughout the Filipino’s stay in New Zealand and even when the Filipino was back already in the Philippines, the Filipino continued to reiterate deep gratitude to Ms. Freyer, the Department of Foreign Affairs, the Philippine Embassy in New Zealand and the Philippine Consulate General in Auckland for the invaluable assistance, constant prayers, utmost concern and full support for the Filipino’s welfare, rights and well-being.