Press Release
June 21, 2019

DFA MUST ENSURE SAFETY OF SEC. DEL ROSARIO AT HK: KIKO

China is at it again trying to intimidate the Philippines' staunchest defenders by holding and questioning former DFA Secretary Albert Del Rosario at the Hong Kong Airport. It was only a month ago when the same tactic was used on former Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales.

This is looking more and more like retaliation for the filed case against China at the ICC. We said it before, we'll say it again: this will not deter them from pursuing China at court. This will only strengthen their resolve as we continue to assert for our sovereign rights.

We are just fresh from a maritime incident with China as 22 of our fishermen were left abandoned at sea after their boat was sank in Recto Bank. Our government has so far sat idly by as Filipinos continue to be affected by their relentless exertion of power. We need our government acting decisively to protect our citizens rather than kowtow to a foreign power that harasses, intimidates and bullies our very own. We call on our government to protect and defend our citizens and to end its complicity and collaboration with China's highhandedness.

After being held and questioned for six hours, former Sec. Del Rosario has now been denied entry to Hong Kong. The reasons remain unclear. They must answer to us: Why was a former top diplomat held, questioned, and barred entry at the Hong Kong airport?

We call on the DFA to exhaust all diplomatic means to ensure Sec. Del Rosario's safety and to help protect his rights while he is yet to arrive home.

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