BI defends blacklisting of Italian political party official

The Bureau of Immigration (BI) on Monday defended its blacklisting of an Italian political party official from the country, claiming he violated a condition for tourists when he visited the Philippines in 2017.

Giacomo Filibeck, deputy secretary-general of the Party of European Socialists, was denied entry at the Mactan-Cebu International Airport for alleged illegal political activity. He was supposed to attend the two-day Akbayan Party Congress.

The European socialist party official was part of a human rights mission that came to the country last year to denounce the killings linked to President Rodrigo Duterte's anti-illegal drugs campaign.

"He was not supposed to do that because being a tourist he does not enjoy the rights and privileges of a Philippine citizen, particularly the exercise of political rights which are exclusively reserved to Filipinos," Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente said in a statement.

Morente cited BI Operations Order No. SBM-2015-025, which he said prohibits foreign tourists from engaging in political activities while in the Philippines.

"We cannot allow the entry of foreigners who have shown disrespect to our duly-constituted authorities by meddling and interfering in our internal affairs as a sovereign nation," the Immigration chief said.

For her part, bureau spokesperson Ma. Antonette Mangrobang cited the case of Dutch activist Thomas Van Beersum, who was deported in 2013 after he made a cop cry during a protest action on the day of former President Benigno Aguino III's State of the Nation Address.

"He (Beersum) not only took part in a protest rally but he also berated and used foul words against the police officer," Mangrobang said. "He was later deported for violating the conditions of his tourist visa and was put on our blacklist."

Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra has earlier spoken about the illegality of  foreigners engaging in "partisan political activities" inside the Philippines.

"It is unlawful for aliens staying in our country to engage in partisan political activities, and the government has the right to refuse entry to those who have committed these illegal acts in the past," Guevarra said in a text message to reporters.

Akbayan representative Tom Villarin said he will file a resolution at the House of Representatives to investigate Filibeck's "shameful" deportation. —Nicole-Anne C. Lagrimas/KBK, GMA News