By Ruth Abbey Gita-Carlos | Philippine News Agency
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. directed concerned agencies to assist Filipinos affected by the Los Angeles (LA) protests in the wake of successive raids by the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Malacañang said this Tuesday, June 10.
In a press briefing, Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary and Palace Press Briefer Claire Castro said the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Philippine Consulate General in LA continue to monitor the immigration raids and protests.
“At ang tagubilin po ng Pangulo, bigyan ng assistance ang bawat Pilipino, lalong lalo na po kung sila’y naka-base o nagtatrabaho sa ibang bansa,” Castro said.
“Pero pinaalalahanan din po silang sumunod sa batas kung saan po sila nakatira o nagtatrabaho,” she added.
Reports said a Filipino national identified as Rolando Enriquez was among the immigrants arrested in raids conducted by ICE agents.
On Sunday, June 8, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) confirmed the apprehension of Enriquez, a 55-year-old Filipino who is allegedly an “illegal alien from the Philippines.”
“His criminal history includes burglary in Ontario, CA (Canada) with a sentence of four years in prison, sexual penetration with a foreign object with force and assault with intent to commit rape in Pomona, CA with a sentence of 37 years in prison,” the U.S. DHS said.
In an advisory on Monday, June 9, the Philippine Consulate General in LA advised Filipinos to exercise caution and vigilance in view of the ongoing immigration protests in downtown Los Angeles.
They are also advised to “avoid any crowd build-ups that may lead to disturbances.” (PNA)
