By ARGYLL GEDUCOS
Malacañang said yesterday that the Philippines will require Americans to secure a visa before entering the country should the United States ban any Filipino official from entering their territory by reason of Sen. Leila de Lima’s imprisonment.
Presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo made the statement after US President Donald Trump signed the 2020 US national budget that contains a provision which authorized the US Secretary of State to ban, but only with credible information, Filipino officials involved in De Lima’s wrongful imprisonment.
Panelo said that President Duterte also banned the lawmakers behind the provision from entering the country.
“Should a ban from entry into US territory be enforced against Philippine officials involved in – or by reason of – Sen. De Lima’s lawful imprisonment, this government will require all Americans intending to come to the Philippines to apply and secure a visa before they can enter Philippine territory,” he said.
“The President is immediately ordering the Bureau of Immigration to deny US Senators Dick Durbin and Patrick Leahy, the imperious, uninformed, and gullible American legislators who introduced the subject provision in the US 2020 budget, entry to the Philippines,” he added.
According to Panelo, all US citizens, including those who are also Filipinos, will be required to secure a visa if they want to enter the Philippines should the US government enforce the provision.
“Lahat. Kung ie-enforce nila. ‘Yun ang colatilla doon. If they will enforce this provision, in the US budget, then we will be compelled to require all Americans to secure a visa before they can be allowed entry,” he said. “Napakasuwerte nga sila, hindi sila binibigyan ng visa samantalang tayo nagpapakahirap. Masyado silang nagiging privileged,” he added.
