PH gov’t agencies point to security risks in temporary stay of Afghans

Several government agencies had reservations over the United States government’s request for the Philippines to temporarily house Afghan refugees in the Philippines, citing security risks and the possible response of some terrorist groups in Mindanao.

At a Senate hearing, Senator Imee Marcos, who sought an inquiry into the matter, asked the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) about its position that it was “highly probable” there were "sleepers" among the Afghan refugees and that their presence in the country could make the Philippines a “target for Taliban and splinter groups.”

“I think the apprehension that we noted is that they may have sympathizers from the Southern Philippines, from our Muslim brothers. So that is a possibility, madam chair,” NBI Deputy Director Jose Justo Yap told the Senate panel.

The National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA) likewise raised the same concerns as the NBI, saying this might eventually pose some security concerns.

“We also express the same anxiety because they are given also the opportunity for some terrorists to travel and that is a problem of records checking and it will pose some security concerns later on,” NICA Director General Ricardo de Leon said.

De Leon also agreed that this could be used as propaganda by pro-Taliban or Al Qaeda groups and other sympathizers.

“[O]ur apprehension is about the sleepers, they could always be activated and have an impact as far as the revival of some activities in the south,” the NICA chief said.

While they were not particularly concerned about the possible infiltration or possible sleepers among Afghan refugees, the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos said that these special immigrant visa (SIV) applicants might be a “target of an attack.”

“If their (Afghan refugees) mobility will not be limited and even if their mobility will be limited, these people from the south or these sympathizers of the ISIS-inspired group can easily travel to Luzon and that is the concern actually,” said Atty. Manggay Guro Jr. from the NCMF.

Guro raised this possibility as he mentioned that the group behind the Marawi Siege is “apparently regrouping and they are growing in numbers because of the continuous problems” in the return of those affected by the siege to their own homes.

Armed Forces of the Philippines spokesperson Colonel Medel Aguilar, when asked to comment, told GMA News Online, "We will talk about this at the proper forum."

Marcos reiterated her question on why the US was seeking to house the Afghan refugees, who are former US government employees, in the Philippines instead of bringing them directly to America.

“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 SIV is assured, and yet, they don’t want them,” Marcos said.

“Doesn’t this raise concerns on the background and character of these individuals . Eh ayaw nga ng employer kunin yung dating empleyado bakit tayo ang kukuha [at] di nangangamba? Sila, ayaw. Bakit ganoon?” she asked.

In response, Philippine Ambassador to the US Jose Manuel Romualdez explained that SIVs should be processed in other jurisdictions before they are allowed to enter the US.

“Iba yung refugee status kaysa dito sa special immigrant visa kasi the minute they approve that, talagang they can come to the United States, work here, live here and this is going to be their new home. Yun ang pagkaalam namin sa special immigrant visa,” said Romualdez, who attended the hearing virtually from the US.

The Senate Foreign Relations Committee launched an investigation into the matter after Sen. Marcos questioned why the US opted to house the Afghans in another country and not in their own country even though these individuals were “supporters of the US and possibly, even former employees of the US government or US companies.”

Marcos said, “There is a substantial risk that individuals who pose a threat to national security and public safety may be admitted into and housed in the country.”

According to Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo, the Department of Foreign Affairs received a concept note from the US government last October 22, 2022, which indicated a “request” for the Philippine government to allow Afghans formally employed by the US government and their qualified dependents to temporarily stay in the Philippines to process their SIV applications with the US Embassy in Manila.

The request was personally raised by US President Joe Biden with President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. during the latter’s state visit to America last May, Manalo disclosed.

In the concept note and in the informal talks that he had with US officials, Manalo said all Afghans would be traveling with valid passports. They would undergo rigorous security vetting and background checks if they had worked for the US government before arriving in the Philippines.

All costs would be shouldered by the US government, and the US and Philippine governments would select a suitable site where they would stay while their SIVs were processed.

The Philippines could also impose mobility restrictions on the Afghans and no Afghan would be left behind in the Philippines, even those who may be denied SIVs. — DVM, GMA Integrated News