Sen. Tolentino backs temporarily taking in Afghan refugees

Senator Francis Tolentino on Saturday said he supported temporarily taking in refugees from Afghanistan as requested by the United States government.

Tolentino said there was nothing wrong with taking a foreigner in for three months and that it was something to be done for humanitarian reasons.

“Wala po akong nakikitang mali, ‘yung proseso lang ng paglalahad ni DFA Secretary at Ambassador binigla nila siguro. Dapat ipinalaam sa taumbayan at ipinaliwanag na ito at temporary lang. Per batch lang, ang kabuuan ay 50,000, pero ‘di sabay-sabay, at walang gastos ang Pinas,” he said.

Tolentino explained that we shouldn't take in refugees just because there is a US request. There were also humanitarian considerations.

“Marami tayong pinasok na international communities, at historically marami na tayong ginawang ganyan. Wala akong nakikitang masama na patirahin sila dito ng tatlong buwan. Dito lang sila para maiwasan ang political persecution ng Taliban. Sila po ay inaapi,” he added.

“May choice tayo di naman pwersahan pero wala namang masamang tumulong sa kapwa. Sa kabanata ng kasaysayan natin nagawa na natin yan,” said Tolentino, adding that the Philippines also hosted foreign nationasl during the Vietnam War.

However, Tolentino noted that President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. would make the final decision on the matter.

“May soberenya tayo pwedeng tanggihan pero ang pananaw ko dapat tanggapin,” he added.

On June 13, Senator Imee Marcos said she was concerned that agreeing to the US request would open the Philippines to “substantial risk” from “individuals who pose a threat to national security and public safety." She also questioned the supposed non-disclosure of the US request to the public.

However, Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose Manuel Romualdez said there was nothing secret about the request and the proposal was being carefully studied. — DVM, GMA Integrated News