‘Rude, outrageous’: Panelo blasts Canadian immigration for questioning ex-PNP chief Azurin

Former presidential legal counsel Salvador Panelo slammed Canadian immigration authorities for questioning former Philippine National Police chief Rodolfo Azurin Jr. earlier this week about the drug war of former president Rodrigo Duterte.

"While Canada has the authority to accept or reject visitors entering its territory, its immigration authorities cannot detain former PNP General Rodolfo Azurin Jr. and subject him to probing questions relative to the policy of our country on how we deal with the drug menace and those who operate it," Panelo told *DAILY TRIBUNE* in a Viber message.

"Not only is that rude, it is a blatant and outrageous intrusion into the internal affairs of our country as well," he added.

Panelo's statement came after reports emerged that Canadian immigration authorities questioned Azurin upon his arrival at the Langley Airport in British Columbia last week. Azurin was asked about the Duterte drug war and even about incumbent senators allied with the previous administration.

Azurin was reportedly not deported, but opted to take a flight back to the Philippines to avoid further "harassment" by immigration authorities.

The Canadian government has yet to comment on the reports.

The sponsor of the Department of Foreign Affairs' 2024 budget deliberations elaborated about the matter on Wednesday.

House Minority Leader Rep. Marcelino Libanan asked sponsor Nueva Ecija Rep. Joseph Violago regarding the reports about Canadian airport immigration authorities intercepting Azurin.

Violago confirmed that Azurin had faced problems, but said the Canadian government had apologized for the "misunderstanding and miscommunication."

"This incident occurred a few days ago. General Azurin voluntarily went to Canada, but suddenly returned to the country. It seems there was a misunderstanding and misinterpretation of what happened, and the Canadian government expressed their regrets for the miscommunication," he said.

In a statement, Azurin also refuted claims of deportation and accused his former coworker, PNP Deputy Chief for Administration Police Lieutenant General Rodel Sermonia, of allegedly spreading false information.

"Sermonia had been spreading lies about my alleged 'deportation.' Maybe he knows something that everyone in our country do not know. Maybe, it was him who tipped the Canadian Immigration by concocting half truths and many lies and had been hoping that I will be deported. He had been sending messages about my deportation," Azurin said.

"I'm sorry, but that's not how it happened," he added.

Human rights groups have widely criticized the Duterte government's drug crackdown, alleging that it had led to thousands of extrajudicial killings.

The Philippine government has denied these allegations and maintained that the drug war has successfully reduced drug-related crimes.