(Eagle News) — Senator Risa Hontiveros on Friday, June 20, slammed the government for what she said was its silence even when “respected civil servants” were being “harassed” by China.
Hontiveros made the statement after former Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario was held at the Hong Kong airport, where he was to attend a business meeting.
Del Rosario suffered the same plight as former Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales, who was supposed to go on vacation in the territory last month.
Hong Kong authorities eventually allowed her into their territory, but she opted not to do so.
Both Del Rosario and Morales are the complainants in a communication filed against Chinese President Xi Jinping before the International Criminal Court over China’s activities in the disputed South China Sea.
“Iniisa-isa na ba ng gobyernong Tsina ang lahat ng Pilipino na tumitindig at lumalaban para sa soberanya at teritoryo ng ating bansa? How long will this government stay silent and allow our nation, our fisherfolk, and now our respected civil servants, to be harassed?” Hontiveros asked.
According to Hontiveros, the Department of Foreign Affairs should file diplomatic actions if diplomatic protocols were indeed violated.
She noted that Del Rosario used a diplomatic passport when he flew to Hong Kong.
She also urged the DFA to follow up on what happened to Morales on May 21.
“It is now clear that President Duterte’s subservient policy to China has failed to protect our territories, fisherfolk and public leaders, and if we continue on this course, it will spell disaster for our country,” she said.
In a radio interview, Consul General Antonio Morales said immigration processing for Del Rosario “lasted for a while” even if he had written Hong Kong immigration about the former Foreign Affairs secretary’s arrival.
He said Hong Kong immigration did not reply to him.