PHL envoy says Pinoy communities treated as an 'asset' in US

Philippine Ambassador to Washington Jose Manuel Romualdez on Thursday said Filipinos need not fear migrating to the US despite the Trump administration's toughened policy on immigrants.

Interviewed on News To Go, Romualdez said the Philippines has many "allies" in US Congress who look at Filipino communities as an "asset."

"Meron tayong mga kaalyado sa US Congress na sa tingin ko naman they look at their Filipino communities as an asset to them," he said.

Romualdez clarified that what President Donald Trump doesn't want entering the US are "criminals," stressing that as far as he knows, Filipinos have "good image" among many American lawmakers.

"Like I said maganda ang ating image dun. Lahat ng mga American senators na nakausap ko meron silang mga kanya-kanyang Filipino communities," Romualdez said.

"Isa lang sinasabi nila: proud sila sa kanilang Filipino-Americans or mga Filipinos na nagtatrabaho sa communities nila."

Romualdez reminded Filipinos who are staying illegally in the US to study the legal options they could take.

"Pag medyo tagilid... they have to come home," he said. —KBK, GMA News