MANILA, March 13 -- Senior Deputy Speaker Aurelio Gonzales Jr. on Thursday commended the Philippine Embassy in The Hague for providing assistance to former President Rodrigo Duterte and his companions, calling it a reflection of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s "compassionate leadership."

"We commend the Embassy and its staff for extending assistance. We believe it was part of their job - to help any Filipino in distress in their assigned area, whether he is a former official or ordinary overseas Filipino worker or tourist," Gonzales said in a statement.

Gonzales said the embassy's action demonstrated the Marcos administration's commitment to humanitarian law, as he noted that Duterte's stay in The Hague in The Netherlands to face the I...