By The SUN
 |
| Del Rosario shows his diplomatic passport on arrival in Manila (ABS-CBN photo) |
Former Philippine Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario has
returned to Manila after being barred entry to Hong Kong , and detained at the airport for about six
hours before being allowed to leave.
The country’s former top diplomat arrived at Ninoy Aquino
International Airport
Del Rosario, who is 79, called his detention in Hong Kong as “harassment.” He said that despite repeated
questioning, Hong Kong immigration authorities
merely said he was barred for “an immigration reason.”
Del Rosario’s ordeal came just a month after the Philippines ’ former Ombudswoman, Conchita
Carpio-Morales, was also barred entry to Hong Kong .
The two jointly filed a case against Chinese President Xi
Jinping at the International Criminal Court for alleged crimes against
humanity, stemming from China ’s
incursions in the West Philippine Sea .
The elder statesman also led the team that successfully won
the Philippines ’ arbitration
case against China
Observers say these were clearly the reasons why Del Rosario
was denied entry to Hong Kong, which is a special administrative region of China
Del Rosario, who flew to Hong Kong to attend a board and
shareholders meeting of the First Pacific group, also showed to reporters in Manila
He decried this as a violation of the Vienna Convention on
Diplomatic Relations.
But Philippine government officials showed little sympathy
for what the elderly former cabinet secretary was made to go through in Hong Kong .
Senate President Tito Sotto even questioned Del Rosario’s
used of a diplomatic passport when he was no longer in government.
Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra, who is acting as
government caretaker while President Rodrigo Duterte is in Thailand
Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo echoed the
sentiment.
Nevertheless, Guevarra said he would ask the Department of
Foreign Affairs to ask Hong Kong why Del
Rosario was barred.
Like Morales, Del Rosario said he was held in isolation for
nearly six hours, before Consulate officials led by Consul General Antonio
Morales were allowed to see him.
But unlike Morales who was subsequently offered to enter
Hong Kong along with her family members, Del Rosario was told to leave on the
next available flight to Manila
According to Corominas, the incident underlined the growing
influence of China in Hong Kong , the reason why some two million people took to
the streets here last week to protest a bill that could see arrested suspects
being sent to the mainland for trial.
“This raises the
question of where Hong Kong is getting
instructions from.”
Asked how Del Rosario coped with the detention, Corominas
said he was patient at first, but as the hours passed, it was only his strong
faith in God that helped him bear the diplomatic snub.
“God is more powerful than China
===
I-TRY MO ITO, KATRIBO!
Mas madali nang tawagan ang mga advertiser natin dito. Pindutin lang ang kanilang ad at lalabas ang automatic dialer. Isa pang pindot ay matatawagan mo ang advertiser na hindi na kailangang i-dial ang numero nila. I-try mo!
