The Bureau of Immigration said Wednesday it will arrest and deport foreign national joining anti-government demonstrations.
BI Commissioner Jaime Morente issued the warning as President Duterte is scheduled to deliver his State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday.
“We are issuing the warning to avoid the repetition of past incidents wherein several aliens were arrested and deported for participating in rallies during the SONAs of the President,” the BI chief said.
He stressed that aliens are prohibited by law to engage in any political activity in the country.
“It is an act of disrespect, tantamount to meddling in the internal affairs of a sovereign nation for aliens to participate in political rallies,” he said.
Morente stressed that foreigners have no political rights and privileges of a Filipino.
It can be recalled that in 2013, Dutch citizen Thomas van Beersum was deported after being photographed joining a protest and taunting a crying anti-riot policeman.
Likewise, Canadian student Kim Chatillon-Miller was also deported for joining an anti-SONA demonstration for the same year.
In 2018, Australian nun Patricia Fox was denied renewal of her visa for participating in partisan political activities.
In the same year, Zimbabwean Tawanda Chandiwana, American Adam Thomas Shaw, and Malawian Miracle Osman were ordered to leave for involvement in leftist activities.
“Follow our laws, respect them and you will not be arrested and deported,” Morente advised foreigners visiting the country.
BI Operations Order No. SBM-2015-025 prohibits foreigners from participating in political demonstrations while in the country. (Jun Ramirez)
