Ahead of SONA, foreigners warned against joining protests

Ahead of President Rodrigo Duterte's State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) has reminded foreigners that they are prohibited from joining political demonstrations in the Philippines.

"Joining political demonstrations is an utter display of disrespect to the country's authorities, and is equivalent to meddling in our internal affairs as a sovereign nation," Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente said in a Wednesday statement.

He warned that foreign protesters can be deported and barred from re-entering the Philippines if found committing acts that constitute overthrowing the government, unlawful destruction of property, and violation of the conditions of their stay.

Approved by then-Justice secretary Leila de Lima in 2015, BI Operations Order No. SBM-2015-025 prohibits foreigners from "joining, supporting, contributing or involving themselves in whatever manner in any rally, assembly or gather, whether for or against the government" and any other political activity as defined by law and jurisprudence.

The operations order is based on the premise that foreign tourists in the Philippines are not entitled to the exercise of political right, which it says is "inherently exclusive to Filipino citizens."

Last year, Australian missionary and human rights advocate Patricia Fox was deported after being accused of illegally engaging in political activism. At least three other foreign missionaries were deported or ordered out of the country in the same year for alleged participation in leftist activities.

In 2013, Dutch activist Thomas van Beersum was deported after being photographed joining a SONA protest and taunting a Filipino policeman. Canadian student Kim Chatillon-Meunier was also deported for joining a SONA demonstration in the same year.

"Follow our laws," said Morente. "It is very simple and clear. Foreign visitors are not allowed to partake in political demonstrations. We allowed your stay in the Philippines, please respect our government and our laws." — MDM, GMA News