Senators expressed conflicting views on the Philippine government’s decision to allow temporary shelter to refugees from Afghanistan.
Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada said providing houses to these foreigners was tackled during their Senate deliberations.
Estrada said he initially did not like the proposition, since many Filipinos remain homeless, but was convinced when he was told the expenses for accommodating the Afghan refugees would be at no cost to the government.
“And I think, they (Afghans) will just stay here for a short period of time,” said Estrada in Thursday’s media forum.
Earlier, Senate President Francis Escudero said they will ask additional details on this request from the United States during the hearing of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) budget.
But the Senate leader also said he understands this agreement to house the Afghan refugees is just temporary. They will stay in the Philippines while their Special Immigrant Visas (SIVs) are being processed for resettlement to the US.
Senate Majority Leader Francis Tolentino, Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel III, Senators Risa Hontiveros and Robin Padilla said they are in favor of supporting these Afghans who will be housed in a secluded facility in the country.
Tolentino said the move shows the Philippines’ respect for humanity and for international obligations and is “in line with our nation’s values of compassion, solidarity and international cooperation.” He hopes the country carries on its tradition of helping refugees.
Pimentel said that, basically, “we agree with the decision of the government to be a compassionate place, a compassionate country.”
Hontiveros, for her part, said stands with Tolentino and other senators in “opening” the door to temporary safety in our country to refugees and persons facing possible persecution, including women and children.”
Padilla stressed the Philippines does not and should not see the refugees as a threat.
But Sen. Imee Marcos, chairperson of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, warned of a “substantial risk” in admitting the Afghan refugees. She questioned why the US did not choose another country to host them or fly them straight to America.
Marcos viewed some of the refugees as possible threats to national security since they allegedly worked for the US government.
“Aren’t these former U.S. employees?” she asked. “I repeat, are these refugees or US spies (who) moved out of Afghanistan at the end of the US invasion of the country?”
Marcos criticized the agreement, saying the Philippines has enough problems already. The senator also inquired about what the Afghan refugees will do while they are in the country, and how long they will stay here, noting the lack of transparency on the details of the agreement with the US.
Foreign Affairs spokesperson Teresita Daza said the agreement covers a limited number of Aghan applicants for a limited period and shall be authorized to stay in the Philippines for no more than 59 days.
She also said it is based on an executive agreement, which only needs the approval of President Ferdinand Marcos before it becomes effective.
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