By Ferdinand Patinio/Philippine News Agency
MANILA – The Bureau of Immigration (BI) on Wednesday reminded foreigners that they are not allowed to engage in any political activity in the country.
BI Commissioner Jaime Morente issued the reminder in connection with previous incidents of deportation and exclusion of foreign nationals who took part in protests and mass actions.
“We are sending this warning to avoid a repeat of the cases wherein we had to deport foreign protesters,” he said in a statement.
BI Operations Order SBM-2015-025 prohibits foreigners from engaging in political activities while in the country.
They are barred from “joining, supporting, contributing, or involving themselves in whatever manner in any rally, assembly, or gathering”.
Morente noted that while it is within their policy to welcome foreign visitors, they are also duty-bound to implement the law by deporting foreign protesters.
“Foreigners have no business joining such activities as it is a clear violation of their conditions of stay,” he added.
According to Morente, being a visitor of the country does not give foreigners the political rights and privileges of a Filipino.
“Joining political demonstrations is an utter display of disrespect to the country’s authorities, and is equivalent to meddling in our internal affairs as a sovereign nation,” Morente said.
In the past, several foreigner nationals have been ordered to leave the country, among them are Dutch citizen Thomas van Beersum who was deported after being photographed joining a protest and taunting a crying policeman, while Canadian student Kim Chatillon-Miller was also deported for joining an anti-State of the Nation Address (SONA) demonstration in 2013 during the term of former President Benigno Aquino III.
In 2018, Australian nun Patricia Fox was denied renewal of her visa for violating the conditions of her stay and participating in partisan political activities.
Also last year, Zimbabwean Tawanda Chandiwana, American Adam Thomas Shaw, and Malawian Miracle Osman were ordered to leave for involvement in mass protests.
“Follow our laws. It is very simple and clear. Foreign visitors are not allowed to partake in political demonstrations,” the BI official said.
“We allowed your stay in the Philippines, please respect our government and our laws,” he added.
Morente warned that alien protesters can be deported if found committing acts that constitute overthrowing the government, unlawful destruction of property, and violation of the conditions of their stay.
“If found guilty, we will blacklist these foreigners, effectively barring them from re-entering the Philippines,” he added.
President Rodrigo Duterte will deliver his fourth SONA on July 22.
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