BY DOMINIQUE GABRIEL G. BAÑAGA
BACOLOD City – Negros Occidental’s Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson is not in favor of the request made by the United States to have Afghans take temporary refuge in the Philippines.
His main concern was security: “We all know why they are even considered refugees; they have to leave their country because of threats to their lives.”
Lacson added threats to the refugees’ lives can also happen in the country.
Last week, Press Secretary Cheloy Garafil said Malacañan Palace is still evaluating the proposal.
U.S. President Joe Biden made the request to the Philippine government during the state visit of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. last month.
“It’s a request from the United States government. The request is currently under evaluation,” Garafil said.
Thousands of Afghan nationals fled their homeland shortly after the U.S. and its allies withdrew from Afghanistan and the Taliban took over the country in 2021.
Most of the Afghan nationals who have fled are those who have worked with U.S. forces and its allies, as well as those formerly working with the prior Afghan government./PN
