Former Philippine envoy to South Korea on Interpol watchlist

July 19, 2020

The Philippines' former ambassador to South Korea has been placed on the Interpol's watchlist for allegedly committing sexual harassment against a South Korean woman.

Yonhap News Agency on Friday said the former envoy, 69, "was placed on the Red Notices whereby Interpol will ask its member states to cooperate in locating and arresting him, according to the National Police Agency."

The ambassador, who is not named, was accused of sexual harassment by the South Korean woman in Seoul last December, Yonhap added.

In a statement on Saturday, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said it received the complaint in February while the ambassador was in Manila.

The DFA's Committee on Decorum and Investigation looked into the allegation where the South Korean woman and the ambassador cooperated in the proceedings.

The envoy resigned effective March 16. The Philippine Embassy in Seoul is headed by charge d' affairs Christian de Jesus.

''The Department is committed to ensuring that justice is rendered in this case. It also remains committed in cultivating and preserving a work environment where all personnel are treated with respect and dignity, and free from harassment of any kind,'' the DFA said. DMS