Marcos non-committal to hosting Afghans

MANILA, Philippines — President Marcos raised yesterday the possibility of rejecting the United States government’s request for the Philippines to host its 50,000 former Afghan employees, citing security, legal and logistical concerns.

Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of an event in Parañaque City, Marcos said the Philippines would continue to study the request and see if there is a way to grant it without endangering Philippine security.

“We are still looking exactly at how to make it work — if we can. It’s entirely possible that we will not find a way to make it happen,” the President said.

Marcos noted that the Philippines has a long tradition of taking in refugees. “In principle, we would like to help. We took in the Vietnam boat people. We took in the German Jews during the war. That’s the attitude of Filipinos,” he said. However, he also noted that the Afghans covered by the request are not classified as such and are “an entirely different class of person” who are being resettled in the US or other places.

Marcos clarified that the Philippines and the US have not reached an agreement on the Afghans, who are in the last stage of their US special immigration visa application.

“We are helpful. But again, we have to make sure that it is not something that will affect the lives of ordinary Filipinos,” the Chief Executive said. “That’s why I was a little surprised when I saw some of the news reports [on hosting the Afghan nationals]… There’s no deal.”?So as far as Marcos is concerned, the two parties have to discuss the possibility that accommodating the Afghans would not proceed as planned.

“There are security issues. Of course, we have to be conscious of that. But there are even more difficult legal and logistical issues because if the plan as it stands runs exactly as it’s planned, then that’s good, we won’t have any problem,” said the President.

The thousands of Afghans reportedly worked for the US government before the Taliban seized power in Afghanistan two years ago.

Marcos underscored that even if the US would cover for the expenses of the Afghan settlement in the Philippines, it is something Filipinos will have to handle.

“We’ll see if we can actually manage it… There’s still quite a few issues that we have to hammer out with the Americans,” he said.

Sen. Imee Marcos, the President’s sister, has questioned why the US is eyeing to put the Afghans in the Philippines instead of the American mainland or countries closer to Afghanistan.

In a June 16 hearing, the senator invited security officials who expressed fears that accepting Afghan nationals poses a security risk due to possible retaliation from Taliban sympathizers.

Vice President Sara Duterte also expressed her opposition to the proposal, saying it could worsen the situation particularly in areas where local terrorists violate Philippine sovereignty.

But yesterday, Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri told the “Kapihan sa Senado” forum that he favored the hosting of Afghan nationals who are fleeing their country in fear of reprisal for working with the US government.

“I don’t know legal impediments to do this; but personally, we should do it. It’s the right humanitarian thing to do,” Zubiri said. “I respect their opinions [Philippine security officials]. But this is my personal opinion, not of the Senate’s, but as a member of the board of governors of the Red Cross.”?

He also expressed confidence that the Afghans would only be staying in the Philippines – particularly confined in a residential complex built at the expense of the Americans  – for two to three months during the processing of their immigration visas for the US.

Last Monday, Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro Jr. said the Department of Justice (DOJ) is studying whether the request is allowed under the country’s immigration laws.

Yesterday, DOJ spokesman Mico Clavano said their legal department is currently reviewing the request and is expected to issue a legal opinion on the matter.

Asked when the DOJ is expected to release this legal opinion, he replied:

“All I can say is that it’s undergoing the necessary research and due diligence that it’s supposed to and we will come out when… that is ready,” he added.

Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose Manuel Romualdez earlier said the government might be able to decide on the request by July 15. – Neil Jayson Servallos, Pia Lee-Brago, Marc Jayson Cayabyab