Philippines open to refugees, including Rohingyas - Duterte

The Philippines is willing to receive refugees or forcibly displaced people, including the Rohingyas, said President Rodrigo Duterte during his first speech before the United Nations General Assembly early Wednesday morning. 

"As I have said many times: The doors of the Philippines are open, as they have always been, to everyone fleeing for safety, such as the Rohingyas," he said.

"In the face of a mounting refugee crisis worldwide, let us work together towards ending the conflicts and conditions that force people to flee their homes," he added.

The Rohingyas are Muslim people inhabiting western Myanmar who were forced to leave their country.

According to the statistics posted on the website of the United Nations Refugee Agency, about 79.5 million people around the world have been forced to flee their homes. Among them are nearly 26 million refugees, around half of whom are under the age of 18.

The agency also says "there are also millions of stateless people, who have been denied a nationality and lack access to basic rights such as education, health care, employment and freedom of movement."

Duterte, in his speech, also called for mutual understanding and tolerance.

"Mr. President: As our societies become more diverse yet interdependent, social cohesion issues come to the fore," he said.

"Mutual understanding always accompanied by mutual tolerance between those of different faiths and cultures is the only foundation of societies at peace with itself and all others," he added. -- BAP/KBK, GMA News