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PHL embassy staff asked to stop escorting politicians on vacation


The staff of the country's embassies should stop serving as tourist guides for government officials on a vacation in their respective posts, a senator said on Monday.

“Pati ako inaalok palagi pero palagi ako tumatanggi. Siguro ganun talaga yung kalakaran nila. Pero hindi ko pinayagan yun sa akin dahil labas sa trabaho nila yun," Escudero said.

"Sa totoo lang kaya ka nagbabakasyon para nga mawala at malayo layo sa gobyerno tapos gobyerno pa rin yung sasalubong sa ‘yo dun,” he said in a phone interview with reporters," he added.

“Siguro mas dapat nilang tutukan ang mga kaso tulad nito (kay Mary Jane Veloso) at yung kalagayan ng ating OFWs,” Escudero said.

Asked if it was a standard operating procedure, Escudero answered in the negative saying it just became a practice to appease politicians.

“Siguro naging kalakaran na lang yun sa mga nagdaang panahon dahil minsan mayroong haharangin sa Commission on Appointments," Escudero said.

"May panukala noon na pinagbabawal na yan para may rason yung mga diplomats natin na wag nang gawin ‘yun maliban na lang kung official visit talaga at may convention na aatend-an yung mambabatas o official,” he said.

The senator expressed hope the Philippine embassy officials could be as diligent as embassy officials of other countries.

“Tingnan mo na lang ang Amerika, si (US Marine Joseph Scott) Pemberton, grabe kung asikasuhin ng embahada. Guilty or not guilty nandun yung pag asikaso sa kanya at saka alalay talaga kada hearing,” he said.

“Tingnan nyo yung ginawa ng Spain, nakipagkasundo pa sila sa Pilipinas para sa isang prisoner swap para may option at dun i-serve sa Spain yung sentensya ng isa nilang national. Isa lang yun pero they went out of their way to do that. Sana ganun din yung makitang pag-aaruga sa mga OFWs natin mula sa gobyerno at DFA (Department of Foreign Affairs),” he said. —NB, GMA News

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