Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said today that the Philippine government will not protest against Hong Kong’s detainment of former Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales.
The former Ombudsman arrived in Hong Kong for a holiday with her husband, son, daughter-in-law, and two grandchildren on Tuesday but Hong Kong immigration officers stopped her from entering citing “immigration reasons,” then ushered her into a room where she was detained.
Morales was later allowed to enter Hong Kong but she decided to go home to Manila instead.
Panelo said they would keep their hands off from the issue, saying that Morales was not disrespected in Hong Kong. He said he talked to her on the phone to ask about the incident.
“If they were rude to her, if she were mistreated, that’s not allowed. But that didn’t happen. She was just annoyed because it ruined her plans for her grandchildren. And she was allowed to go in but she left. She was annoyed,” he said in a mix of Filipino and English.
He also added that it’s unclear if Morales’ detention had something to do with the complaint she filed at the International Criminal Court (ICC) against Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Morales, along with former foreign secretary Albert del Rosario and a group of Filipino fishermen, alleged that Xi, in his plan to take over the contested West Philippine Sea, caused “permanent and devastating environmental damage” to the area.
“I don’t want to speculate. I’m not one to [make] undue speculation. There’s no official statement [from Hong Kong]. When the former ombudsman asked them (immigration officials), they weren’t saying anything,” Panelo said.
Morales said the incident left her feeling humiliated and angry but she became even more determined to pursue the ICC complaint against the Chinese government.
Panelo said the government had nothing against Morales’ decision to file the ICC complaint. “She’s entitled to her opinion. She exercises her right to freedom of expression. We respect that,” he said.
