SPAIN – The term of office of the Philippine Honorary Consul to Barcelona has been cut short following a Catalonia pro-independence photo he uploaded on social media.

The photo of Jordi Puig taken last October 3, 2017 shows him holding a sign which says “Keep Calm” at a protest rally against police violence and repression during the Catalonia referendum on independence.

Although the rally was not a Catalonia pro-independence demonstration, the sign bore the name of an active pro-independent group.

Spain' Ministry of Foreign Affairs contacted the Philippine embassy to express its displeasure on Puig’s public action, which was a violation of the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations prohibiting consular and diplomatic officers from intervening in the affairs of the host country.

Although Puig is a Spanish citizen and is entitled to his own belief and convictions, his official status as the Philippine' Honorary Consul limits him to express his beliefs in public and in media.

As per letter from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Philippines, Puig's contract will conclude at the end of January 2018. His term was supposed to end on July 2018.

The Consulate office, which is housed in one of the buildings used by Puig for his businesses, will also be closed.

In a telephone conversation with ABS-CBN News, Puig expressed his heavy heart over the matter.

He explained that he didn't mean to promote the pro-independence advocacy as he was aware of his official status.

He narrated that during the rally, when he saw the sign “Keep Clam”, he thought it was a positive and neutral message and so he decided to have his photo taken with it and later posted it on his social media account.

He didn't realize the impact the small letters revealing the name of the group that printed it would spur.

Philippine Consulate General Emmanuel Fernandez told ABS-CBN News that the embassy was saddened by the turn of events.

But Fernandez also commended Puig for the excellent service he rendered and dedicated to the community during his tenure.

“It is a sad development. Mr. Puig has been a very good representative of the Philippines in Barcelona. He is hardworking, dedicated and very loved by the Filipino community. But we must abide by what happened,” Fernandez said.

He also assured the community that the embassy is already working to address the aftermath of the unfortunate and untimely closure of the Barcelona office.

According to him, a Consular Mission will continue to be held on the first Saturday of each month at Silken Hotel.

They are also finalizing talks to fill in the post of Honorary Consulate. L

Meantime, Fernandez said that as earlier communicated to the community, the Department of Foreign Affairs will re-open a full Career Consulate in Barcelona by 2019.

The Honorary Consulate in Barcelona is attending to over 25,000 Filipinos residing in Catalonia and Aragon, as well as the Filipino seafarers who dock at the seaport of Barcelona.