Seeking clarity: The hearing, held in Manila, on the discussion to temporarily house Afghans awaiting resettlement in the US. — AFP
A Philippine Senate committee kicked off an investigation into the US request for the country to host Afghan nationals applying for a special immigrant visa to head for America.
Senator Maria Imelda “Imee” Marcos, the chair of the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, launched the investigation to shed light on the US proposal.
During the hearing on Friday, Marcos questioned the reason why the US wanted to involve the Philippines in processing the entry of Afghan nationals who previously worked with the American agencies in Afghanistan.
“If the United States is unable or unwilling to accommodate the SIV applicants temporarily, why don’t they consider US territories such as Guam, Puerto Rico and Guantanamo?” she said.
The senator expressed her concern that these Afghans who previously worked with the US government might be targets of reprisal from anti-US terrorist groups.
Senator Jose Pimentel “Jinggoy” Ejercito also raised his concerns over the request to host Afghan immigrants.
“Given our housing backlog and the rise in the cost of living, shouldn’t our limited resources be focused on taking care of our own?” he said.
“We want to register now our vehement objection and opposition to the proposal in its entirety, mainly on legal grounds and security issues,” said Michael Wesley Poa, spokesperson of the Department of Education led by Philippine Vice-President Sara Duterte.
Philippine Foreign Secretary Enrique Manalo said the issue is still under discussion, adding that the government has yet to allow Afghan nationals into the country.
“It’s just an idea of the United States,” Manalo said. — Xinhua
