He said when they received Reyes’s request, they contacted the Office of the Federal Labor Ombudsman.
“It is at that time that the consulate learned that a lawyer was already handling the case of Mr. Macaraeg. As has been the practice, the lawyer handles the case and he plans the legal strategy,” the consul general said.
But he said they may have failed to provide feedback to Reyes about his request.
The consul general said Macaraeg’s right to due process is being observed, adding that “there are current legal proceedings and he is being represented by a lawyer.”
“Mr. Macaraeg did not personally approach us and it was only Rene who requested for assistance. Exactly what assistance is being requested from the consulate is unclear as [Macaraeg] is already being represented by a lawyer,” the consul general added.
But he said the consulate could not comply with the request of Macaraeg’s daughter who wants her father to come home to the Philippines.
“We regret that we could not address the request of his daughter because he himself, the person concerned, has a different viewpoint,” the consul general said.
