Manila - The president of Palau was forced to stay an additional night in the Philippines following a state visit after he was not allowed to board his return flight because he refused to be frisked, officials said Thursday. President Tommy Remengesau was scheduled to leave Manila after his two-day visit on Wednesday evening aboard a Continental Airlines flight to Palau.
But the flight took off without Remengesau and his wife Debbie after the Continental crew did not allow them to board because the president refused to be patted down, a security procedure at airports.
Remengesau expressed disappointment over what he called the "unprecedented and disrespectful treatment of a head of state."
"I am well aware of security concerns that airlines face and I support their efforts to keep flying safe, but there must be some room for the exercise of common sense in all decisions," he said in a statement before leaving Thursday on a chartered plane.
"There must be respect for dignity of the highest level of government," he added.
Alfonso Cusi, general manager of Manila's international airport, said Continental would be investigated for refusing to grant courtesy to Remengesau and his wife.
Remengesau returned to his hotel in Manila from the airport, while Philippine authorities ironed out the hitch and negotiated with Continental to waive the security check on the president as a courtesy to the visiting dignitary.
But the airline refused, citing strict US regulations.
Continental is the only airline that flies directly to Palau from Manila.
The Philippine government chartered a private jet to fly Remengesau and his wife home on Thursday.
Remengesau said he would raise the issue with regional airlines and the US Transportation Security Administration.
"I intend to bring this up with the regional airlines serving Palau as well as the US transportation administration so that we can ensure that respect and culturally appropriate treatment is accorded heads of state that will visit Palau," he said.
