Former President Duterte slammed the United States for demanding the Philippines take in Afghan refugees in the country.
In a news article published by columnist Bobi Tiglao of the Manila Times, a recent meeting between the presidential management staff and U.S. Embassy officials was held in which the Americans said they want to process 1,500 Afghan refugees per month and house them in New Clark City, part of the former U.S. Clark Air Base.
Many of these afghan refugees are said to be unprocessed.
America’s move earned heavy criticism from Senator Imee Marcos, who also questioned the request as to why the United States is choosing the Philippines to take in refugees instead of other countries that are geographically much closer to Afghanistan and are also well-equipped to accommodate them.
Senator Imee also confirmed that it was Philippine Ambassador to the U.S. Jose Romualdez who is pushing her brother, President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. to give in to the demands of Washington.
But for former President Duterte, it’s better not to give in to America’s demands.
Citing the article, high-ranking officials at the department of foreign affairs have also reportedly taken offense at the meddling of Ambassador Romualdez and strongly objected to America’s demand.
Duterte lauded DFA’s move and expressed his full support of their objection on the matter.
Meanwhile, Pastor Apollo C. Quiboloy raised security concerns about the Philippines and the possibility of terrorists entering the country to side with the enemies of the state under the guise of refugees, because many of them are unprocessed.
And many of them are unprocessed and many of them might be with Taliban.
Meanwhile, Duterte appealed to President Marcos and asked him not to give in to the pressure being forced upon him by the Americans.
It can be noted that Ambassador Romualdez said that the plan to accept Afghan refugees has not yet been approved by Pres. Marcos.
And as for the United States, the former Philippine President slammed Washington and told them to change their tone, because they do not have the right to make any demands from the Philippines.
