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Philippines against US request to let 50,000 Afghan refugees in the country
The United States wants to move refugees temporarily in third countries. The Philippine government has yet to decide, but some senators have raised question. The Philippine president's sister fears some refugees could be American spies. Meanwhile, Afghans who worked with the US military find themselves stranded in third countries where they are often persecuted.
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Manila (AsiaNews) – Some Philippine government officials and politicians are opposed to a US request to temporarily host about 50,000 Afghan refugees before they are moved to the United States.
“While the proposed arrangement is humanitarian in nature, it will not involve the admission or hosting of Afghan refugees,” said the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs in a statement.
The request was presented in Manila back in October last year, this according to Jose Manuel "Babe" Romualdez, the Philippine ambassador to Washington and cousin of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr, who added that if the request is granted, the United States will cover all costs.
Speaking to the Senate, he noted that the people in question are not refugees, but former employees of the US government who will arrive in groups of about 1,000 people at a time.
After the Taliban came back to power on 15 August 2021, tens of thousands of Afghans who had worked with the US military or media were evacuated to neighbouring Pakistan and other third countries where their applications for a US visa are being assessed. In total, about 150,000 are still pending after almost two years.
Pakistan had barred entry to US officials to conduct interviews with refugees and hindered the establishment of resettlement centres. Meanwhile, in the last 18 months, the residence permits of asylum seekers who had managed to obtain them have expired.
Without papers, Afghans cannot study or work and can be arbitrarily sent back to the border or arrested by local authorities, who often extort money from them.
Ambassador Romualdez explained that the United States simply asked for assistance in processing visas, which will be issued at a special facility in the Philippines.
While the Philippine government has stated that it is considering the proposal (a decision should be reached by mid-July), Senator Imee Marcos, sister of the president and head of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, has started a probe into the request, concerned that some refugees might spy for the Americans.
“During the past year, security and espionage threats have substantially increased because of the sharp escalation in tension between the rival superpowers," she said.
“Doesn’t the fact that the US no longer wants to house these foreigners in safe havens within the territory of the US raise concerns for us? They are claiming that there will be very low risk in security, that highly vetted groups will be the only ones coming, and that the Special Immigrant Visa is assured, and yet, they don’t want them,” Marcos added.
The Philippines’ National Bureau of Investigation and National Intelligence Coordinating Agency also expressed concern that “sleeper cells" might be activated. Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte, daughter of former President Rodrigo, is also opposed to the US request, saying the proposal could undermine the country's sovereignty.
“[I]t seems that the vetting process will be done by (the US). Therefore, this is an interference into our exclusive determination as to who can enter our country,” her spokesperson said.
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