MANILA - US ambassador to the Philippines Francis Ricciardone has apologized for the rough treatment of deposed president Joseph Estrada's senator wife, officials said Wednesday.
Ricciardone also promised to request a "full report" from Washington about Senator Luisa Ejercito's complaint, the presidential palace said.
Ejercito was detained by US immigration and Homeland Security officials at San Francisco International Airport on Sunday. She told the senate that she was questioned about her husband's ongoing corruption case.
Estrada is in detention for allegedly plundering some 80 million dollars in public money during his 30 months in office. He was ousted by a military backed popular revolt in 2001.
Senate president Franklin Drilon denounced what he called the "shabby treatment" of an elected Filipino senator.
"These unnecessary and uncalled for cases of harassment of Filipino officials at US airports should stop," Drilon said.
President Gloria Arroyo's spokesman Ignacio Bunye said the government was concerned over the incident even as he acknowledged Ricciardone's apology.
"Philippine lawmakers deserve some respect in foreign soil in the same manner that all foreign government officials and diplomats enjoy the respect and courtesies due them in our country," Bunye told reporters.
Another presidential palace spokesman Silvestre Afable, however, said a diplomatic protest was no longer necessary.
"Since the US ambassador has expressed an apology, I think we should leave it at that and leave the US authorities to rectify their procedures so this would not happen again," Afable said.
03/23/2005 11:12 GMT