The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) confirmed that former Philippine National Police Chief Gen. Rodolfo Azurin Jr. was intercepted upon his arrival in Canada.

However, the DFA clarified that the report saying that the Canadian government deported Azurin is not true, clarifying that he was not deported by the Canadian government.

During the House of Representatives’ hearing on DFA’s proposed budget for 2024, Nueva Ecija Joseph Violago said that there was a misunderstanding and misinterpretation of what happened.

Violago also explained that the Canadian government has already expressed its regrets about the miscommunication.

He clarified that Azurin voluntarily went to Canada and, at the same time, volunteered to return to the Philippines.

The former PNP chief earlier blamed PNP Deputy Chief for Administration Lieutenant General Rhodel Sermonia for spreading false information about him being held by Canadian immigration in hopes of deporting him back to the Philippines.

But Sermonia denied the accusations and said that Azurin has been fed false stories again to bring his name to the unverified reports of the former PNP chief’s deportation issue, adding that he has no reason to do the thing he has been accused of.