MANILA - The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) will assist former Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales after she was held by immigration authorities at an airport in Hong Kong, Malacañang said Tuesday.

Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said he has already requested Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Ernesto Abella to help the former top graft-buster, an administration critic.

“He (Abella) already replied and said they are already on it,” Panelo said.

Carpio Morales earlier told ABS-CBN News she flew to Hong Kong with her children and grandchildren for a family vacation but was barred from entering Hong Kong, a special administrative region of China.

Hong Kong authorities gave her no explanation for their decision to deny her entry.

• Ex-Ombudsman Carpio Morales denied entry to Hong Kong

Carpio Morales said she is awaiting deportation, scheduled Tuesday night, at the airport's immigration facility.

It can be recalled that Carpio Morales and former Foreign Affairs Sec. Albert Del Rosario brought Chinese President Xi Jinping to the International Criminal Court for alleged crimes against humanity.

The former Philippine officials sought an investigation into Beijing's "systematic plan to control the South China Sea."

Hong Kong’s Immigration office considered Carpio Morales as a “security threat,” according to her lawyer Anne Marie Corominas.

"How is a 78-year old former anti-corruption Ombudswoman a security threat in HK-China?" said Corominas.