The Philippine government has no qualms about the new immigration rules issued by US President Donald Trump but assured it will assist those who may be affected by the travel restrictions.
Presidential Communications Assistant Secretary Ana Marie Banaag recognized that the United States has all the right to limit the entry of immigrants into the country, adding that Manila will just wait for the “parameters” of the new policy.
“We respect the policy of the United States of America if they have prohibitions or they would be banning people from entering their country because that is their right,” Banaag said over government radio.
Banaag said the Department of Foreign Affairs may be mobilized to “negotiate” and help local travelers who may be barred from flights to the US.
“They have the visa, they have regulations on who are qualified to go to their country so what we can do perhaps would be to let the DFA negotiate on that matter. However, we will respect kung ano naman ang regulasyon ng embahada or the US on that matter,” she said.
Trump recently signed an executive order placing a 90-day ban on the entry of travelers from seven mainly Muslim countries supposedly to protect Americans from terror threats. The order also temporarily halted all refugee arrivals into the United States.
For now, Banaag admitted that Trump’s new immigration rules were not yet clear and that the government prefers to see the official statement through diplomatic channels.
“Kapag yan ang naidulog na sa embahada at kung ano ang parameters niyan saka na lang tayo mag-komento on that matter,” Banaag said. (Genalyn D. Kabiling)
