Filipino not among 10 migrants deported by US to Africa — PH embassy

The Philippine embassy in Washington denied recent reports that a Filipino citizen was among the 10 foreign nationals who boarded a deportation flight to the African state of Eswatini.

"After verification with the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the embassy was able to confirm that no Filipino citizen has been involved in any third-country deportation from the United States," the embassy said in a statement on Saturday.

The individual in question, it added, "was unable to establish Philippine citizenship and therefore could not be deported to the Philippines."

US news agency Axios reported on October 6 that three Vietnamese men, one Filipino, one Cambodian, and men from Chad and Cuba were sent to the southern African nation.

Eswatini's Correctional Services division issued a press release confirming the arrival of the 10 men on Monday, it said.

"In line with established correctional procedures and protocols, HMCS will continue to implement strict security measures to ensure the safety of both the public and all inmates admitted to our facilities, including foreign nationals. We further reiterate the government's assurance that these individuals pose no immediate threat to public safety, as they remain under strict supervision and care within the Department's facilities," the statement read.

The Philippine government in May this year has requested US officials that Filipinos facing deportation should be allowed to return to their home country.

Ambassador Jose Manuel Romualdez said he conveyed to US officials the Philippines' position that it will "certainly not want" any Filipino, even a Filipino-American, to be transported and detained to third countries which agreed to accept deported migrants from the US under an arrangement with the Trump administration.

The embassy said it continues to engage with relevant US authorities to ensure the well-being of its citizens in the US and reiterated that it is ready to receive all Filipino citizens under final order of removal. — with a report from Dave Llavanes Jr./ VDV, GMA Integrated News