Morales’ HK ordeal should be a ‘wake-up call’ for DFA – Escudero

Former Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales (File photo by NIÑO JESUS ORBETA / Philippine Daily Inquirer)

MANILA, Philippines — What happened to former Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales in Hong Kong should be a “wake-up call” for the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to exhaust efforts in ensuring the welfare of Filipinos abroad, outgoing Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero said on Tuesday.

Earlier in the day, Morales was reportedly denied entry by Hong Kong officials for being a “security threat.”

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

“I consider what happened to former Ombudsman Morales as a wake-up call because, for me, providing assistance and clarifying all denials of entry imposed by any State on any Filipino is part of the DFA’s job of protecting/defending our nationals especially when they are abroad,” Escudero said in a tweet.

Escudero, who has just been elected Sorsogon governor, noted that while immigration policies should be the “sole prerogative of every sovereign nation, nothing prevents the DFA from providing any and all assistance to its citizens who are abroad and inquiring or getting clarification as to what these immigration policies are as applied to its citizens.”

I consider what happened to Former Ombudsman Morales
as a wake up call because, for me, providing assistance & clarifying all denials of entry imposed by any State on any Filipino is part of the DFA’s job of protecting/defending our nationals especially when they are abroad.

— Chiz Escudero (@SayChiz) May 21, 2019

While immigration policies are the sole prerogative of every sovereign nation, nothing prevents the DFA from providing any & all assistance to its citizens who are abroad & inquiring or getting a clarification as to what these immigration policies are as applied to its citizens.

— Chiz Escudero (@SayChiz) May 21, 2019

Morales and former Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario had 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.”

In a statement, Sen. Francis Pangilinan said Morales was denied entry to Chinese territory in “retaliation for her courageous act of bringing China to court.”

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