Ungentlemanly and undiplomatic

I am bewildered by the action of President Bongbong Marcos who “invited” Ambassador Marie Fontanel of France and Czech Republic Chargé d’ Affaires Eva Tenzin to express disappointment that Zaldy Co was never arrested or imprisoned in their country or in Europe.

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It was bad enough that several government officials had committed a major political and communication blunder by blabbering fake news, but whoever advised the President to call the ambassadors to Malacañang to express his disappointment was not helping PBBM.

Such an “incident” like the non-arrest of Zaldy Co is diplomatically left to the secretary of Foreign Affairs to handle verbally or officially and in writing for emphasis. Inviting ambassadors to lament over a non-arrest, no matter who, is an overkill. It’s like crying over spilled milk.

Yes, the President is disappointed, perhaps even embarrassed. But who caused the embarrassment? Was it not his own bunch of over eager sidekicks who leaked and later made a big show of the arrest that never happened or never stuck?

What did the President hope to gain, an official apology or a lengthy explanation on the laws and circumstances covering the non-arrest of Zaldy Co?

Once again, the government wasted time and resources on something the PBBM administration could have nipped in the bud by exercising the same so-called political will when they grabbed and deported former president Digong Duterte.

Instead of a now suspected stage show or zarzuela of inviting foreign diplomats to express his disappointment, PBBM should investigate and punish the people who fed him wrong or incomplete information.