Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 13) — Ambassador to the United States Jose Manuel “Babe” Romualdez on Tuesday clarified that the US was only requesting the Philippines to assist its Afghan personnel fleeing the Taliban while their American visas are being processed.
“It’s not refugees but former Afghan employees of the US government (and their families) in Afghanistan whose lives are in danger and are to be given Special Immigration Visas…All are destined to proceed to the US after processing,” Romualdez said.
“The US request is to have a processing center in the PH and it is still being studied and reviewed by Philippine government,” the envoy added.
The clarification came after Senate Minority Leader Koko Pimentel joined Senator Imee Marcos in questioning the alleged request of the United States for the Philippines to take in Afghan refugees.
Although he sees “no problem” with the US request to temporarily house Afghan refugees, Pimentel had a few questions.
“How come the US cannot do all those temporary measures in US soil? Nakapagtataka [It’s suspicious],” the senator said.
“I’m sure the US has better and bigger existing buildings for this use than us,” he added.
Romualdez explained that the US asked the Philippines “as an ally.”
“There are similar processing centers in other friendly countries under request as well,” he said.
Last week, Senator Marcos filed Senate Resolution 651, seeking an inquiry into the real intention behind the US request to grant some Afghans special immigrant status “since no data have been made public on the said Afghans’ status as legitimate refugees or employees of the US government or American companies.” https://legacy.senate.gov.ph/press_release/2023/0609_marcosi1.asp
Defense Secretary Gibo Teodoro, who was among those asked to explain by Marcos in her resolution, said his office is studying the matter.
Teodoro also pointed to the spokesperson of the Department of Foreign Affairs as the focal person for queries on the matter.
