Palace criticizes treatment of Loi at San Francisco airport

Malacañang called on the US government yesterday to investigate the detention of Sen. Luisa Ejercito at San Francisco International Airport in California last Sunday.

However, Palace communications director Silvestre Afable said a diplomatic protest might not be necessary since US Ambassador Francis Ricciardone has already apologized for the incident.

"Of course, we want all our officials and legislators to be given proper courtesy and treatment and we are concerned about that," he said.

"But since the US ambassador has expressed an apology, I think we should leave it at that and leave the US authorities to rectify their procedures so this would not happen again," Afable said.

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said yesterday the US State Department had promised to investigate the detention of Senator Ejercito after receiving a protest from the Philippine embassy in Washington and the consulate general in San Francisco.

The US State Department has apologized to the Philippine embassy in Washington, DFA spokesman Gilberto Asuque told reporters yesterday.

Meanwhile, ousted President Joseph Estrada told The STAR yesterday he wanted the US government to apologize for his wife’s "humiliation," but that it was pointless to demand an apology since he is in detention.

"How can I demand an apology? I’m incarcerated here," Estrada said.

Estrada said the former first lady tearfully recounted to him over the telephone how she had been segregated from other passengers by US Homeland Security and immigration officials who stopped her and her party at the airport’s arrival area.

"Imagine, she’s a senator," he said.

"It’s up to her. She is a senator. How much more would they (US officials) do to ordinary Filipinos? Naaawa nga ako sa kanya, umiiyak. Bakit daw siya ginaganun (I feel sorry for her. She was crying as she told me: ‘Why did they have to do that’)?" Estrada said.

Estrada’s relatives in San Francisco who came to the airport to greet his wife and their daughter, Jackie, and her grandson, had to wait for almost two hours before US immigration authorities released the senator, the former president said.

Two years ago, the US Embassy denied Estrada a visa when he applied to enter the US to undergo knee surgery at a hospital in California.

The US Embassy told Estrada not to apply for a travel visa, since it would only be denied due to his pending plunder case before the Sandiganbayan.

Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye said the government acknowledges the apology of Ricciardone and his promise that Washington would look into the incident.

"We are concerned over this incident and we acknowledge the statement of (US) Ambassador (Francis) Ricciardone expressing regrets and the assurances that this will be looked into," he said.

"Philippine lawmakers deserve some respect on foreign soil in the same manner that all foreign government officials and diplomats enjoy the respect and courtesies due them in our country."

The Philippines expects the US government to investigate the reported maltreatment of the former first lady by US immigration officials, Bunye said.

Meanwhile yesterday, Lanao del Norte Rep. Abdullah "Bobby" Dimaporo deplored the "shabby treatment" of Senator Ejercito by US immigration officials at San Francisco International Airport.

"If the US (congressmen), or any US people who would come here on the Philippine soil, were given the same treatment like what they did to Senator Loi, her daughter and grandchildren, what would they feel?" he asked. "Of course, they would feel insulted. If they can do it to a senator, how much more to an ordinary person?"

House Majority Leader Prospero Nograles called the American authorities "arrogant," and claimed they had acted as if they ruled the world and that all must pay homage to them.

"It’s time to remind them that if we want to win against terrorism we must work as a team and they can’t dictate or show disrespect to other democratic sovereign nations, especially public officials who represent their countries," he said.

Senate President Franklin Drilon said Senator Ejercito related how a certain Mr. Pangan detained and questioned her about the plunder charges pending against her husband.

"As Senate president, I denounce this shabby treatment of a duly elected Filipino senator at the hands of US immigration officials," he said.

"These unnecessary and uncalled for cases of harassment of Filipino officials at US airports should stop." — Aurea Calica, Marichu Villanueva, Pia Lee-Brago