Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra. INQUIRER file photo / MARIANNE BERMUDEZ
MANILA, Philippines—Former Foreign Affairs chief Albert del Rosario should have learned from the lesson of former Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales’ previous ordeal at the Hong Kong International Airport, Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said Friday.
Del Rosario was held and questioned at the Hong Kong airport Friday morning, nearly a month after Morales was barred from entering the country for being a “security threat.’”
READ: Ex-Foreign Secretary Del Rosario held, questioned at Hong Kong airport
“Personally, I believe that the lesson derived from former Ombudsman Morales’ similar experience should have been clear to him,” Guevarra said.
Morales and Del Rosario recently filed a case before the International Criminal Court (ICC) against Chinese President Xi for depriving Filipino fishermen of their livelihood, aggression and environmental degradation in the West Philippine Sea.
READ: Morales suffers 4-hour ordeal in Hong Kong
In a text message to reporters, Guevarra, who was named government caretaker in the absence of President Rodrigo Duterte who is set to fly to Thailand for the 34th Asean Summit, said he will ask the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to ensure assistance for the country’s former top diplomat.
READ: Guevarra is gov’t caretaker as Duterte attends Asean Summit in Thailand
“As OIC (Officer-in-Charge), I will request the DFA to find out the reason for former SFA’s [Del Rosario] exclusion and extend whatever assistance could be given to him as a former foreign minister of our country,” Guevarra said.
Senator Panfilo Lacson claimed that the ordeal of the two former ranking government officials had something to do with the case they filed against Xi.
However, the senator also pointed out that the denial of entry is well within the right of Hong Kong as host country. (Editor: Jonathan P. Vicente)
READ: Lacson links Del Rosario’s ordeal to case filed vs Chinese Xi