No rush to appoint Phl envoy to US

MANILA, Philippines - There is no rush to appoint an ambassador to the US despite the threat of deportation of over 300,000 undocumented Filipinos under President Donald Trump’s policy on illegal immigrants, Foreign Affairs Secretary Perfecto Yasay Jr. said yesterday.

Yasay made the statement during his confirmation hearing before the Commission on Appointments (CA) at the Senate when he was asked about preparations of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) for helping Filipinos likely to be affected by the crackdown on illegal immigrants.

When asked whether President Duterte should immediately appoint an ambassador in the light of developments in the US, he said: “I think it is not necessary at this time.”

“I do hope that we appoint at that particular time, when this thing (crackdown) happens, but the (Philippine embassy) at this point is very adequately, the consular posts are adequately manned by people who know what to do,” he said.

Duterte has stated that he is not too keen on appointing an envoy to the US as he takes steps to improve ties with China.

The foreign affairs chief said the administration has been making preparations for a possible crackdown and that the Philippine embassy in Washington as well as the consulates “have already been keyed into implementing an action plan which is really to immediately provide legal assistance to Filipinos who might be subject to deportation.”

He said that while there is nothing the government can do to stop any move to deport undocumented Filipinos, the US is doing everything to uphold due process and protect human rights.

He said the US government is not expected to summarily deport illegal aliens without due process.

“We have a push in making this possible, the legal assistance. Even as an alien may be deportable given a situation, that particular alien might have equities that have been built in his favor that, with a good defense, can be allowed to remain in the US,” he said.

Yasay said the Philippine diplomatic posts in the US are putting up a communications network to allow distressed Filipinos to report to them any deportation proceedings.

Meanwhile, representatives of the US-Philippine Society met with Cabinet officials yesterday to discuss the two countries’ policy directions and developments as well as issues hounding bilateral relations during a period of transition with the recent election of new leaders.

The US-Philippines Society bi-national board includes some 30 private sector and civic leaders.

“This board meeting is being held at a fortuitous moment, as both countries go through their respective political transitions. We will explore opportunities for the society to pursue its mission of strengthening ties between our two countries under these new circumstances,” US-Philippines Society co-chair Manuel V. Pangilinan said.

“The most important thing is explaining the reality of today’s Philippines in official Washington, and of course New York,” US-Philippines Society president John Maisto said.

According to Maisto, peace and order and security are some of the top issues American firms are concerned about.

“There are questions that come up and we try to be factual about it. But again, it’s up to Filipinos to deal with those issues, not us,” Maisto said.

“Something similar is happening to the US. Are there bumps on the road?  Yes, but the system in the Philippines works vis-à-vis the interest of the US and the foreign business community,” he added.