DND chief on Afghan refugees: We're waiting for DOJ's word on legality

Defense Secretary Gilbert "Gibo" Teodoro Jr. said Monday that they were still awaiting word from the Department of Justice if the United States' request that the Philippines temporarily house refugees from Afghanistan was legal.

"'Yung sa Afghan refugees, inuulit ko, hinihintay pa namin ang opinyon ng DOJ kung ito ay legal at puwedeng pagbigyan o hindi. Kasi kung di maaari sa batas ng Republika, ano pa ang paguusapan natin?" Teodoro told reporters at the sidelines of an event in Quezon City.

(As for the Afghan refugees, I repeat, we are still waiting for the opinion of the DOJ if this is legal or not. If this is not allowed under our laws, what is there to talk about?)

"Ito, hindi humanitarian ang hinihingi eh. SIV (special immigrant visa) ito so ibang kaso ito at kahit na humanitarian ang rason, inaaral pa rin ng ating gobyerno ang lahat ng implikasyon," he added.

(The reason for their request is not humanitarian. This is about SIVs, so it is a different case. And even if it is for humanitarian reasons, the government needs to study the implications.)

Teodoro said there was no time frame involved as this was being carefully studied.

Asked if the matter was already discussed with President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr., Teodoro said, "Hindi pa umabot sa kanya ang usapin na ito kasi nga pinagaaralan muna natin."

(This has not reached him yet because we are still studying it.)

Presidential Communications Office Secretary Cheloy Garafil said the matter was under evaluation.

Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose Manuel Romualdez earlier said the country's response to the US' request could come out by around July 15.

“I would think that before the middle of July, we should be able to make a decision. The memorandum for the President’s approval or disapproval, whichever the case may be, will be sent to Malacañang as probably as late as July 15… That is more or less what we are tracking right now from here, from Washington DC,” Romualdez said in on ANC.

The Senate Foreign Relations Committee launched a probe into the matter after Senator Imee Marcos filed a resolution asking why the US opted to house the Afghans in another country and not in their own country even though these individuals were “supporters of the US and possibly, even former employees of the US government or US companies.”

US President Joe Biden raised the matter with Marcos during the latter’s state visit to Washington last May. — DVM, GMA Integrated News