Duterte: Del Rosario no business of using diplomatic passport

June 27, 2019

President Rodrigo Duterte said former Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario had no business using a diplomatic passport.

In a speech during the 122nd founding anniversary celebration of the Presidential Security Group on Wednesday night at Malacanang Park, Duterte noted Del Rosario's "detention" in Hong Kong.

"He (Del Rosario) used a passport, which he should not. When you are no longer an employee of government, you have no business using a government diplomatic passport," he said.

Hong Kong authorities barred Del Rosario from entering Hong Kong early this month.

Using his diplomatic passport, the former Department of Foreign Affairs chief was supposed to attend the meetings of First Pacific's board and shareholders in China's administrative region.

Del Rosario, along with former Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales, filed a complaint before the International Criminal Court against Chinese President Xi Jinping for alleged crimes against humanity due to the displacement of thousands of Filipino fishermen and the destruction of the marine environment in the South China Sea.

China built artificial islands in the disputed waters. Celerina Monte/DMS