MANILA (UPDATE) - Former Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario on Friday afternoon arrived in Manila after he was denied entry to Hong Kong.

Del Rosario arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport past 4 p.m. and was seen sitting on a wheelchair.

The former top diplomat, who was barred from entering Hong Kong for a business trip, described the incident as harassment.

"I think clearly the bottom line is I was being harassed or we were being harassed. And I think the reason might be--if you follow the trend, the honorable Ombudswoman who’s here, she went through the same experience," he told reporters.

"And the link to that experience, which turned out to be consequential to us was the ICC (International Criminal Court) communique."

Del Rosario and former Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales earlier filed a communication against Chinese President Xi Jinping before the ICC for alleged crimes against humanity.

Morales was also held for questioning at Hong Kong Airport last month.

Del Rosario said he would consult Morales on their next move.

• 'Harassment, bullying': Carpio Morales slams HK's denial of entry to ex-top diplomat

"I’ve also received a suggestion from the Department of Foreign Affairs that we should look into the possibility of protesting the failure of authorities to respect the diplomatic passport and this would be a violation of the Vienna Convention," he said.

Article 40 of the Vienna Convention provides that a diplomatic agent is entitled to "inviolability and such other immunities as may be required to ensure his transit or return" through a territory of a third state.

The former top diplomat added that Hong Kong authorities did not give an explanation for his detention.

"No, there was no explanation given, even to the last minute, entry was being denied," he said.

"Every time I ask what are we here for, why are we being detained, their response was 'It’s an immigration reason.' What’s that immigration reason? 'It’s an immigration reason.'"

Del Rosario said he "sort of expected" that he would be barred from entering Hong Kong but he had to try because he had to attend a shareholders meeting.

"I think I was ready for something like this because I had to pursue since I had business in Hong Kong. There’s no way for me to get around," he said.

"They’re doing well, but I’m sorry I couldn’t join them. I woke up at 3 a.m. to make those meetings but to no avail."

Del Rosario said he informed the DFA of his trip and that the Philippine Consulate in Hong Kong had written to authorities there.

"But apparently nobody even knew where that letter was or whether they have received it," he said.

Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra, caretaker of the Philippine government while the President is in Thailand, said Del Rosario should have learned from the Hong Kong ordeal of Morales.

• Del Rosario should have learned from Morales' HK trip: DOJ chief

"Personally, I think that the lesson derived from former Ombudsman Morales' similar experience should have been clear to him," Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said in a text message Friday.

He, however, noted that he would request the Department of Foreign Affairs to find out why Del Rosario was barred from Hong Kong.