Duterte issues EO providing protection for refugees in Philippines

President Rodrigo Duterte has issued an executive order institutionalizing access to protection services for refugees, stateless persons and asylum seekers. 

Duterte said EO 163, dated February 28 but was only released on March 2, is in accordance with the 1951 United Nations Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees and its 1967 Protocol, 1954 UN Convention Relating to the Status of Stateless Person, and 1961 Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness. 

“In this regard, the state shall closely monitor and ensure full protection of the rights of persons of concern to liberty and security, and freedom of movement. Subject to applicable laws and issuances, the minimum standards for the treatment of refugees shall be assured,” the EO states.

“These shall include the provision of access to socioeconomic services, social security benefits, gainful employment and humane working conditions, education, participation in judicial and administrative citizenship proceedings, legal assistance and access to courts, and freedom of religion.”

The EO defines refugee as a person who, owing to well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group or political opinion, is outside the country of his or her nationality and is unable or, owing to such fear, unwilling to avail himself or herself of the protection of that country; or who, not having a nationality and being outside the country of his or her former habitual residence as a result of such events is unable, or owing to such fear, is unwilling to return to it. 

Stateless person, on the other hand, is someone who is not considered a national by any state under the operation of its domestic law.

The EO tasks the Refugees and Stateless Persons Protection Unit (RSPPU) of the Department of Justice to examine and process claims to refugee or stateless status.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has limited the ability of refugees, stateless persons and asylum seekers to cross borders to seek protection, bringing to fore the need to integrate and institutionalize relevant policies and programs of government agencies and ensure that these communities of people are properly protected and accorded the widest possible exercise of fundamental rights and freedoms,” the EO states.  —Llanesca T. Panti/KBK, GMA News