Ex-top diplomat Del Rosario, who filed ICC case against Xi, held at Hong Kong airport

MANILA, Philippines (Update 2, 12:28 p.m.) — Former Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario, who called the International Criminal Court’s attention to alleged crimes against humanity of Beijing to Manila, was held at the Hong Kong International Airport.

Lawyer Ann Marie Corominas, legal counsel of del Rosario, confirmed to Philstar.com that the former top diplomat arrived at Hong Kong at 7:40 a.m.

Corominas said Del Rosario, who is going to Hong Kong for a board meeting, told her that no reason was given as to why he was denied entry.

“The only thing that they have said is they are checking on a ‘case’ but we don’t know if the translation is correct,” she said in a phone interview.

She also stressed that Del Rosario’s denial of entry was different from what happened to former Ombudsman Conchita Morales who was also turned away at the same airport a month ago.

Corominas said that Del Rosario is still held at the Hong Kong airport as of 11:00 a.m.

“The Hong Kong Immigration has not been able to explain why he is being detained especially because he is on diplomatic passport,” she said.

Violation of laws

The lawyer explained that Del Rosario, who served as foreign affairs secretary in the previous administration, is traveling on a Philippine government passport.

She said that Del Rosario was given authority to use a diplomatic passport and travel on it.

“This should not be happening and this is a violation of diplomatic relations,” Corominas said.

She said that this is in violation of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations

ICC communication vs Xi

The lawyer also said that the action of Immigration officials shows “that Hong Kong is not autonomous.”

“Where are they getting instructions? Are they getting them from President Xi?” she added.

Hong Kong is a Special Administrative Region of China.

The two former top officials of the Philippines called the attention of the International Criminal Court to Chinese officials’ alleged crimes against humanity against the Philippines and our fishermen in the South China Sea, which is within the Philippine territory.

The two government officials submitted their communication two days before the country’s withdrawal from the international tribunal took effect.

The communication is filed specifically against Chinese President Xi Jinping.