Morales back in Manila after being refused entry to Hong Kong

Former Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — Former Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales arrived in the Philippines Tuesday night after being denied entry to Hong Kong.

Morales and her family flew back to Manila via Philippine Airlines flight PR 307.  They were supposed to have a vacation there, but decided to all come home after immigration officers did not allow the ex-Ombudsman to enter Hong Kong.

READ: Ex-Ombudsman Morales denied entry to HK for being ‘security threat’

In an earlier interview with INQUIRER.net, Morales’ lawyer, Anne Marie Corominas, said the former Ombudsman barred from entering that county for being a “security threat.”

But according to officials of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), Morales was eventually allowed to enter Hong Kong hours after she was held at the Hong Kong International Airport, but she and her family still opted to return to Manila.

“Former Ombudsman Carpio-Morales arrived in HK via PAL at 12:20 p.m. While her four companions – a daughter, son-in-law, and two grandkids – were admitted, she was refused entry with airport officials saying only ‘this is an instruction’,” DFA Secretary Teddy Locsin Jr. said in a Twitter post.

READ: Morales eventually allowed to enter HK, but chooses to go back to Manila

In March, Morales and former Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario filed a complaint against Chinese President Xi Jinping before the International Criminal Court over “atrocious actions of Chinese officials in the South China Sea and within Philippine territory.”

The complaint – technically called a communication – was filed by Morales and Del Rosario on behalf of fishermen who were “persecuted and injured” by aggressive island-building and occupation of China in the West Philippine Sea. (Editor: Katherine G. Adraneda)

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