Ex-DFA chief denied entry to Hong Kong

Former Foreign Affairs Sec. Albert del Rosario. AP FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — Former Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario has been denied entry to Hong Kong after being held and questioned for six hours at the Hong Kong International Airport.

“After holding me for six hours, they are denying entry. That means that the diplomatic passport [I am holding] is not being honored and they refused to give the reason why,” Del Rosario told Juliet Javellana, Associate Publisher of the Philippine Daily Inquirer, in a phone interview.

READ: Ex-Foreign Secretary Del Rosario held, questioned at Hong Kong airport

Atty. Anne Marie Corominas, Del Rosario’s lawyer, told INQUIRER.net in a text message that Hong Kong’s immigration did not allow him entry “despite his Philippine diplomatic status/passport.”

Corominas added that Del Rosario is currently boarding his flight back to Manila and will arrive at 4:25 p.m on Friday.

Del Rosario and former Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales filed a case for crimes against humanity before the International Criminal Court against Chinese President Xi Jinping in March.

Both were held and questioned at the Hong Kong International Airport in separate occasions.

Del Rosario was held at the Hong Kong airport when he arrived there at 7:40 a.m. this Friday while Carpio-Morales experienced the same ordeal when she traveled to Hong Kong on May 21.

READ: Morales suffers 4-hour ordeal in Hong Kong 

Del Rosario earlier said in an interview with dzMM that his “detention” at the airport by immigration authorities is “beginning to look like plain and simple harassment.” (Editor: Jonathan P. Vicente)

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