Marcos wants help for Pinoys affected by immigration ops in LA

President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr. wants immediate assistance to Filipinos affected by the large-scale immigration operations in Los Angeles, California. 

On Tuesday, Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Atty. Claire Castro said the Marcos administration continues to monitor the situation there.

She said the President wants concerned officials to extend assistance to Filipinos. However, he also wants them to follow the law. 

''Sa ngayon po ang administrasyong Marcos, sa pamamagitan po ng DFA at ng Philippine Consulate sa L.A., patuloy pong mino-monitor ang mga recent immigration enforcement and protest,'' Castro said.

(The Marcos administration, through the DFA and the Philippine Consulate in LA, monitors the recent immigration enforcement and protest.)

''At ang tagubilin po ng Pangulo, bigyan ng assistance ang bawat Pilipino lalung-lalo na po kung sila po ay nakabase o nagtratrabaho sa ibang bansa. Pero pinapaalalahanan din po sila na sumunod po sa batas ng bansa kung saan po sila nakatira o nagtatrabaho,'' she added.

(The President wants assistance for Filipinos who are based and working there. However, these Filipinos are also being reminded to follow the laws in the country where they reside and work.) 

Earlier, the Philippine Consulate General in Los Angeles said a Filipino was arrested in his house during an operation of the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

Consul General Adelio Angelito Cruz has said the Filipino was sentenced for theft and rape. He added that the Filipino would be deported.

The ICE operation has triggered protests throughout the Los Angeles area. Advocacy groups and immigration rights supporters have taken to the streets, denouncing what they claim are excessive and discriminatory enforcement practices.

To assist federal agents, over 2,000 National Guard troops have already been deployed to various parts of California, particularly in Los Angeles, as the raids continue. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News