The Philippine government said that it “respects Taiwan’s decision” not to deport a Filipina caregiver for publishing a Facebook post that allegedly attempted to “discredit and malign” President Rodrigo Duterte.
This is after the Taiwanese government turned down a request from the Philippine Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) to send the Filipina to face charges of cyber libel.
“Deportation is really a decision to be made by Taiwan authorities … in the same way [that]we will enforce our law on all foreigners while they are under our jurisdiction,” presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said.
Labor Attache Fidel Macauyag last week sought to expel Elanel Ordidor for her “nasty and malevolent” Facebook posts against President Rodrigo Duterte that, the labor official said, made her liable for cyberlibel.
But Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs rejected the move and described Taiwan as “a sovereign, independent country where foreign workers enjoy ‘citizen treatment,’ and their rights and interests protected by relevant laws and regulations, including freedom of speech, which should be respected by governments of all countries.”
Ordidor, also known as Linn Silawan, will keep her job and will stay in Taiwan.
In the Senate, Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon urged the recall of Macauyag for being “unfit, incompetent and totally unqualified” for his post.” (Source: INQUIRER.net)