Former Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario shows his diplomatic passport to the media after he arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Friday afternoon, June 21, 2019. (Photo by CHRISTIA MARIE RAMOS / INQUIRER.net)
MANILA, Philippines — Former foreign affairs secretary Albert Del Rosario on Sunday said disrespecting the bearer of a diplomatic passport that carries the seal of the Republic of the Philippines means disrespecting the country.
Del Rosario said this after being detained for six hours in Hong Kong before being deported back to the Philippines last June 21.
READ: Ex-DFA chief denied entry to Hong Kong
“I went to Hong Kong with a diplomatic passport, was held for six hours, denied entry, and then summarily deported,” Del Rosario said in a statement.
“What is the significance of the aforementioned? My diplomatic passport carries the seal of the Republic of the Philippines. To show disrespect for the passport bearer is to disrespect the Republic,” he added.
READ: Del Rosario says he notified DFA about use of diplomatic passport
According to Del Rosario, diplomatic passports are given to former foreign affairs secretaries “as a courtesy and as recognition for dedicated service to our country.”
“A small thank you, it is, for our diplomatic warriors,” Del Rosario said.
Following the incident, however, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) canceled all diplomatic passports issued to its former top diplomats.
“The DFA Office of Consular Affairs (OCA) will be issuing an order shortly, canceling all courtesy diplomatic passports, and requiring their surrender for physical cancellation,” a statement issued by the DFA read on Saturday.
READ: DFA to cancel all diplomatic passports issued to ex-top diplomats
While Del Rosario said he would not challenge the order, he sought the “real reason” as to why the passports were taken back.
“For the likes of me, I cannot think of one good reason why this is happening. What is the real reason then for taking back what has already been given?” Del Rosario said.
“What has changed in one long day?” he added.
Defend the seal
Del Rosario then called for public officials to defend the country’s seal.
“The matter then becomes a legitimate issue for the state to deal with and defend its seal. For that we should rely on our public officials,” Del Rosario said.
“They should address the disrespectful party and not consequence our former SFAs (secretaries of foreign affairs) and former ambassadors by using them to distract from the real issue and what we must do,” he added.
Del Rosario also hinted the possibility of detaining and deporting a diplomat from the responsible state.
“Will we be afraid to even think of this? Will we again be acquiescent?” Del Rosario said.
(Editor: Alexander T. Magno)