BI to arrest aliens
joining SONA rallies
The Bureau of Immioration
said Wednesdav it will arrist anrl
deport foreign national joining anti-
government demon3trations.
BI Commissioner Jaime Morente
issued the warning as president
Duterte is scheduled to deliver his
State of the Nation Address (SONA)
on l4onday.
'We are issuing the warnino to
avoid the repetition of past inci_
dents wherein several aliens were
arrested and daported for oartici_
pating in rallies durinq tfre SCitUs of
the President," the BI chief said.
He stressed that aliens are
prohibited by law to engage in any
political activity in thecouitr9.
"It is an act of disrespect, tanta_
mount to meddling in the internal
affairs of a sovereiqn nation for
aliens to participate in Dolitical
rallies," he said.
Morente stressed that foreioners
have no political rights and;ivi
leges of a Fitipino.
It can be recalled that in 2013.
Dutch citizen Thomas van Beer-
sum was deported after beino
photographed joining a protesi
and taunting a crying anti-riot
polrceman.
Likewise, Canadian student Kim
Chatillon-Miller was also deported
mrlornrng an anti-SONA demonstra_
hon for theEame year.
In 2018, Australian nun patricia
Fox was denied renewal of her visa
for participating in partisan political
activities.
In the same year, Zimbabwean
Tawanda Chandiwana, American
Adam Thomas Shaw, itnd Malawian
Miracle Osman were ordered to leave
for involvement in leftist activities.
"Follow our laws, resDect them
and you will not be arrested an.t
deported," Morente advised for-
eigners visiting the countrv. (Jun
Ramirez)
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