Taiwan slams Roque’s remark on deportation of Filipina caregiver

April 30, 2020

Taiwan on Wednesday was dissatisfied with the statement of Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque that China should have a say on whether a Filipina caregiver critical of President Rodrigo Duterte should be deported.

"My country expresses strong dissatisfaction and high regret over Philippine government officials wrongly accusing Taiwan as part of China," an unofficial English translation of Taiwan Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Joanne Ou's statement said.

Ou said Taipei has instructed Taiwan representatives in Manila to formally protest Roque's remarks.

In an interview with ANC, Roque said it is up to Taiwan and China to decide on the deportation of the Filipina caregiver since "Taiwan is part of China."

A Philippine labor attache earlier sought the deportation of Elanel Ordidor for criticizing Duterte's handling of the coronavirus crisis on social media. Taiwan said it will not deport the Filipina, saying foreign workers in Taiwan are entitled to freedom of speech.

If the Philippine government would insist on the deportation of Ordidor, Ou said Manila should submit a request through the Agreement on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters, which was signed between Taiwan and the Philippines in 2013.

"We can negotiate with the Philippine government in accordance with relevant agreements," Ou said.

Taiwan is represented by the Taiwan Economic and Cultural Office, which acts as its de facto embassy in the Philippines.

There are 115,000 Filipino workers in Taiwan. DMS