DFA recalls Phl ambassador to Saudi Arabia

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Saturday ordered Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Adnan Alonto to return to the Philippines after a video of his wife campaigning for a presidential bet in a Filipino community in Riyadh went viral.

DFA Deputy Assistant Secretary for Public and Cultural Diplomacy, Gonar Musor said the agency is currently investigating the incident and has instructed Alonto to return to the Philippines “for a home office consultations.”

“The DFA regularly reminds personnel here and at Foreign Service Posts on the prohibition against engagement, whether directly or indirectly, in any electioneering or partisan political activity,” he said in a press statement.

“It does not condone acts that go against the Omnibus Election Code, the Overseas Voting Act of 2013, and the COMELEC-CSC Joint Circular No. 001, series of 2016,” he added.

Section 24 of Republic Act (RA) No. 9189 or the Overseas Absentee Voting Act prohibits “any officer or employee of the Philippine government to influence or attempt to influence any person covered by this Act to vote, or not to vote, for a particular candidate.”