NEGROS Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson is against the proposal to accommodate Afghan refugees in the country.
"I am in the negative. I am not in favor of accommodating simply because of security reasons. We know why they are being called refugees. They have to leave their country probably because of threats to their lives. So that threat in their lives can happen in our country," Lacson said.
He further said, "We cannot just agree to this proposal because of security threats. I'm hoping that the government will not consider allowing them in the country."
It was Senator Imee Marcos, sister of President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr., who asked for an inquiry into the proposal of the US government to grant about 50,000 Afghan refugees Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) for their temporary asylum into the country.
Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose Manuel Romualdez said Washington will cover all costs should the request be granted, and that Afghan refugees were meant to head straight to the US once their applications are finally processed.
The 50,000 refugees include the families of Afghan citizens who worked with the United States government as spies, Romualdez said.
Senator Marcos is asking for transparency about the memorandum of agreement being prepared to allow a group of Afghans to temporarily stay in the country.*