Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 23) — The Department of Foreign Affairs is separating the agency from the post of diplomat Teodoro Locsin Jr., who encouraged to incite violence against Palestinian children.
“The Department of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of the Philippines completely disassociates itself from the statement made on Twitter by Ambassador Teodoro L. Locsin, Jr. Such statement was made in his strictly personal capacity,” it said in a statement on Monday.
Locsin, who serves as Special Envoy of the President to China and previously sat as DFA secretary, has apologized after drawing flak for his controversial tweet that said “Palestinian children should be killed.”
He said the post was only a sarcastic response to a post, adding he is not advocating for death.
House peace reconciliation and unity panel senior vice chairperson Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong also denounced Locsin over his now-deleted tweet.
\”There is no room in Philippine Society, much more in the high offices of government, for the dangerous, bigoted, and islamophobic rhetoric that is palpable in your now-deleted statement. It is unbecoming for any Filipino, much more a high official, to visit genocidal machinations upon innocent children of any nation,\” the Lanao del Sur lawmaker said in a statement.
The conflict in Israel erupted on Oct. 7 when Palestinian militant group Hamas fired rockets into Israeli territory.
