Senate rushing to probe proposed temporary stay of Afghans in PH
Senate of the Philippines | INQUIRER FILES
MANILA, Philippines — The Senate will conduct on Friday the first public hearing in its probe into the proposal to temporarily accommodate Afghans in the Philippines.
Citing the need to thresh out details of the issue immediately, the Senate foreign relations committee on Tuesday announced the scheduled start of its inquiry.
“Please be informed that due to the significance and urgency of the matter, the executive meeting on June 16, 2023, Friday…is now converted into a public hearing to conduct an inquiry, in aid of legislation, on the proposed temporary housing in the Philippines of Special Immigrant Visa applicants from Afghanistan,” a notice from the panel read.
Senator Imee Marcos, who heads the committee, had filed a resolution calling for the probe as she questioned the intention of the US in proposing the deal to the Philippines when other countries are geographically closer and are “better-equipped to accommodate such foreign nationals.”
“The fact that the US opted to house these foreign nationals in another country and not on US soil, even though these individuals are supporters of the US and, possibly, even former employees of the US government or US companies, casts doubt on the character and background of some of these individuals.”
Philippine Ambassador to the United StatesJose Manuel “Babe” Romualdez earlier welcomed the move to start such an inquiry, so the US proposal “can be properly vetted and discussed.”
