MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang on Tuesday said there is no ban on labor deployment to Hong Kong yet in spite of the massive pro-democracy protests in the semi-autonomous Chinese city.
Presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo said the government, through Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III, is still evaluating whether the situation in the city-state warrants a temporary deployment ban.
But for now, the government is asking Filipinos in Hong Kong to stay away from venues of demonstrations.
“Ang sabi lang ni Sec. Bello mino-monitor nila. Ang protocol nila ngayon is they are asking Filipinos there to avoid those places kung saan merong protests, marches para hindi sila madamay,” Panelo said in a Palace briefing.
The protests were triggered by opposition to a planned law that would have allowed extraditions to mainland China, but have evolved into a wider movement for democratic reform and a halt to eroding freedoms.
A Filipino was reportedly arrested over the weekend for alleged participation in pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong. He was released after posting bail. /kga
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