Atin Ito First Filipino Community Newspaper in Ontario
SEN. Maria Josefa Imelda “Imee” Marcos has called for an inquiry into the United States’ (US) reported proposal to the Philippines to “temporarily house” special immigrant visa applicants from Afghanistan.
The senator on Thursday filed Resolution 651 seeking the inquiry. She said these Afghans, who are allegedly US supporters, will be transported directly to the Philippines.
“To safeguard the national security and the public interest, it is imperative to ascertain the true intention behind the request of the US to temporarily house foreign nationals in the Philippines,” Marcos said.
The Senate must determine “the real nature of the agreement between the Philippines and the US on this matter, and the course of action that the Executive branch plans to take.”
She noted that in a letter dated June 5, 2023 by the Presidential Management Staff (PMS), various government agencies were required to attend a “technical coordination meeting” on the “proposed temporary housing in the Philippines of special immigrant visa applicants from Afghanistan.
Marcos said sources revealed that prior to the sending of such a letter, the US had made a request for the Philippine government to allow the admission and temporary housing in the Philippines of foreign nationals from Afghanistan.
“The fact that the US opted to house these foreign nationals in another country and not on US soil even though these individuals are supporters of the US and, possibly, even former employees of the US government or US companies, casts doubts on the character and background of some of these individuals,” she said.
Marcos said that while it was the policy of the Philippines during the term of former president Rodrigo Duterte to accept refugees from Afghanistan, “the government back then sufficiently disclosed its actions relative to such policy.”
“Furthermore, during the past year, security and espionage threats have substantially increased because of the sharp escalation in the tension between the super power countries,” she said.
“This, in turn, requires a more cautious stand in admitting refugees, particularly those whose entry into the Philippines is being brokered by a superpower country,” Marcos added.
She said the fact that the US made a request to the Philippines
instead of other countries that are geographically much closer to Afghanistan or which are better-equipped to accommodate such foreign nationals “raises serious questions on the real intention and purpose of the US in making such [a] request.”
“There is no showing that the government agencies involved in the
matter have made, or are planning to make, independent verifications and
investigations on the backgrounds of these foreign individuals,” Marcos said.
“Thus, there is a substantial risk that individuals who pose a threat to national security and public safety may be admitted into and housed in the country,” she said. — Bernadette E. Tamayo
*****
Credit belongs to : www.manilatimes.net
