FORMER ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales was denied entry to Hong Kong mid-day Tuesday, May 21, and told to take a return flight to Manila Tuesday night.
Carpio-Morales and former Foreign Affairs secretary Albert del Rosario had filed a communication before the International Criminal Court (ICC), accusing Chinese President Xi Jinping of committing crimes against humanity for implementing Beijing's "systematic plan to control the South China Sea."
MalacaƱang immediately instructed the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to assist Carpio-Morales.
In a statement, Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said DFA Undersecretary Ernesto Abella, in behalf of Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr., already vowed to help Carpio-Morales.
"I already called up Usec. Abella as Sec. Locsin is in Myanmar, and requested him to give assistance to former Ombudsman Morales and her family. He already replied and said they are already on it," the Palace official said.
"We will render assistance to every Filipino in need of assistance abroad regardless of their political persuasion," he added.
Reports said Carpio-Morales flew to Hong Kong on Tuesday morning with her husband, son, daughter-in-law, and two grandchildren for a family vacation.
The family arrived in Hong Kong at about noon. Carpio-Morales was reported to have been separated from her family and kept in a holding room at the Hong Kong International Airport. (Ruth Abbey Gita/SunStar Philippines)