More bullying by China with Morales getting held at HK airport —Del Rosario

Former Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales' co-complainant before the International Criminal Court against Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday accused the Chinese government of "bullying and harassment."

Former Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert Del Rosario made the remark hours after immigration authorities held Morales at the Hong Kong airport.

The retired Supreme Court justice was traveling with her family when she was held.

"One of the reasons we had filed our case in the ICC is to be able to push back against the bullying and harassment that we have been encountering from our Goliath of a neighbor," Del Rosario said in a statement.

"Today, with the holding of former Ombudswoman Conchita Carpio-Morales by immigration authorities in Hong Kong as a security risk presumably due to the ICC case that we had filed, we are experiencing more of the same," he added.

Del Rosario thanked the DFA for its efforts in helping Morales.

Crimes against humanity

Del Rosario and Morales in March sued Xi and other Chinese officials for allegedly committing crimes against humanity in connection with China's activities to gain control over most of the South China Sea.

They filed the case before the ICC on March 15 or two days before the Philippines' exit from the tribunal.

Under its rules, the court may still act on cases related to the Philippines while the Philippines was a member from November 1, 2011 until March 17.

“The situation is both unique and relevant because it presents one of the most massive, near permanent and devastating destruction of the environment in humanity’s history,” Del Rosario said in a statement then.

“It adversely affects and injures not only myriad groups of vulnerable fishermen, including 320,000 Filipino fishermen, but also present and future generations of people across nations,” it added.

Turned back

Morales was with her husband, son, daughter-in-law and two grandchildren when she was held by immigration authorities in Hong Kong, her lawyer told GMA News Online on Tuesday afternoon.

Attorney Anne Marie Corominas, Morales' legal counsel, said Morales called her from Hong Kong to inform her of the situation.

Sources from the Department of Foreign Affairs said the retired Supreme Court associate justice was held because of "immigration reasons."

Morales, according to sources, arrived in Hong Kong past 11 a.m. with her husband, son, daughter-in-law and two grandchildren.

She was separated from her family by Hong Kong's immigration authorities and was asked to take Philippine Airlines' 6 p.m. flight back to Manila.

Her family, sources added, decided to join her. —NB, GMA News