Kapamilya host and former professional volleyball player Gretchen Ho shared some highlights of her conversation with the Philippine Ambassador to Norway earlier this week. This comes after one of her family members wasn’t allowed to have her 300 US Dollars exchanged at the Gardermoen Airport in Oslo.
Gretchen previously shared that the person in charge at the counter explained that because her family member was coming from the Philippines, they can’t exchange the cash.
Enrico T. Fo, the country’s Ambassador to Norway, told the news anchor through a phone call that he was surprised by the incident as well.
“He called me up last night after I emailed an official incident report on what happened to my family member at Gardermoen Airport in Oslo. The Ambassador was surprised. As far as he knows, these incidents shouldn't be happening,” she shared.
Gretchen revealed that the Ambassador will be meeting with the Norwegian foreign ministry to address the pressing issue. It was earlier this year when the Philippines was taken out of the gray list of the Financial Action Task Force.
Just this year as well, the European Union removed the Philippines from its list of high-risk third world countries for money laundering and terrorism financing.
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Despite this development, Gretchen wants further clarification on behalf of Filipinos travelling to Norway. She wondered if the recent political events that happened in the country could be a possible reason for the refusal of currency exchange.
“We want to get some clarity on this, if there is a new policy, given recent events, or just a failure to update and disseminate information. I believe getting some clarity would help not just our family, but other Filipinos who have shared similar experiences at the same airport in Oslo, saying they have been declined foreign exchange services upon knowing their country of origin is the Philippines,” she added.
Netizens have aired their concern as well in the comment section. Others shared their own experiences–– including former Miss Universe Philippines MJ Lastimosa.
The Norwegian foreign ministry has yet to issue an official statement as of this writing.