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Imee wants real score on Afghan refugees in PH
By Macon Ramos-Araneta
SENATOR Imee Marcos seeks a Senate inquiry on the the “real intention” behind the United States’ request to grant some Afghans special immigrant status in the Philippines.
Marcos filed Thursday Resolution 651 calling for the inquiry on the issue even as she also called on newly appointed Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro Jr. and National Security Adviser Eduardo Año to shed light on Washington’s request.
She pointed out that nothing has been made public on the Afghans’ status; whether they are legitimate refugees or employees of the U.S. government or American companies.
Marcos, who chairs the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, asked why the U.S. government wanted to keep the Afghan refugees in the Philippines instead of the American mainland or other countries closer to Afghanistan.
The senator noted that during the past year, security and espionage threats have substantially increased because of the escalation of tensions between rival superpowers.
The Presidential Management Staff (PMS) held a “Technical Coordination Meeting” with other government agencies on Wednesday to take up the “proposed temporary housing in the Philippines of Special Immigrant Visa applicants from Afghanistan.”
