PHL to accept听Afghan听refugees听only under government-to-government arrangement听
THE PHILIPPINES will be accepting Afghan refugees only under听government-to-government agreements,听Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro L. Locsin Jr. said on Monday.听听
鈥淭he Philippines will not accept nor listen to any proposition to accept any refugees unless it is government to government and only by their respective Foreign and Justice ministers; especially of the UK, the US, and other Western countries most active in the evacuation,鈥澨齅r. Locsin said on Twitter.听
He said听the听country听will not entertain any request for asylum coming from non-government听organizations听or听any other non-state parties, citing potential illegal transactions under such arrangement.听听听
鈥淚 believe that refugees will be the next lucrative order of business, having plenty of cash in hand or in foreign bank accounts. The temptation will be resistible to help them and help oneself to them. That will never happen under the administration or in my watch,鈥澨齭aid听Mr. Locsin.听听
He said he wanted to ensure the Philippines听鈥渁ren鈥檛 dragged into a racket.鈥澨
The Palace earlier said听the country听would open its doors to Afghans fleeing Taliban rule.听鈥淎sylum seekers are welcome in the Philippines,鈥澨齮he President鈥檚听spokesperson听said. The Justice chief also said mechanisms听are in place for processing refugees from Afghanistan听under the department鈥檚听Refugees and Stateless Persons听unit.听听听
The Philippines has already completed the evacuation of its citizens from Afghanistan.听鈥斕鼳lyssa Nicole O. Tan听
