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Senators raise more questions on PH-US 'deal' to house Afghan refugees

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Sherrie Ann Torres, ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img alt="Senate PRIB" src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2023/life/06/14/20230614-imee-gatchalian.jpg"/><figcaption><em>Senate PRIB</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>MANILA (<strong>UPDATED</strong>)- Sen. Imee Marcos on Wednesday continued to press for details about the real identity of some Afghans which the United States government is requesting the Philippine government to accommodate.</p><p>Marcos, sister of President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr., issued the question after Philippine Ambassador to the United States Ambassador Jose Manuel Romualdez stated that the US government’s request only involves their former employees and their families “whose lives are in danger” in Afghanistan.</p><p>“More contradictory and confusing. Can’t wait for Senate inquiry,” the senator said.</p><p>But it was not only Marcos who is now questioning the supposed agreement.</p><p>Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian said he sees the need to investigate the matter and be briefed in full about the United States&#x27; request.</p><p>Gatchalian stressed that he doesn’t mind helping foreigners like Afghans, especially if they are “qualified and don’t have criminal records.”</p><p>But he wants to understand the cost or logistics that the Philippine government will have to shoulder for the act.</p><p>“Ang Afganistan nasa Middle East yan, tapos dadalhin dito sa atin... Yung gasolina lang na papunta rito mas mahal na yun. Number two, saan ipo-process, we don’t know how many people ang pinagu-usapan natin. Saan sila titira? Bibigyan ba sila ng visa? May mga ganung logistical issue that we need to think about,” Gatchalian told journalists.</p><p>Gatchalian noted there are other countries nearer Afghanistan that can host the refugees. </p><p>The Senate is set to hold a public hearing on the matter on Friday.</p><p>The Philippines&#x27; Department of Foreign Affairs refused to comment on the plans, according to an AFP report.</p><p>A US embassy spokesman in Manila told reporters: &quot;We do not comment on ongoing diplomatic discussions&quot;.</p><p>&quot;The (US President Joe) Biden Administration remains committed to the thousands of brave Afghans who stood side by side with the United States over the course of the past two decades,&quot; the spokesman added.</p><p>US and allied forces pulled out of Afghanistan in 2021 to end America&#x27;s longest war, launched after the September 11, 2001 attacks.</p><p>Tens of thousands of Afghans fled their country in the chaotic evacuation of August 2021.</p><p>Many of those who had worked with the ousted Western-backed government arrived in the United States seeking resettlement under a special immigrant visa program.</p><p>But thousands were also left behind, waiting for their visas to be processed.</p><p>Afghanistan&#x27;s Taliban rulers insist no harm will come to anyone who collaborated with Western powers or the former government, and are encouraging those who have left to return and help rebuild the country.</p><div><strong>—With a report from Agence France-Presse</strong></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO</strong></div><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/1skRFXnL9_g?enablejsapi=1" width="560"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more News on <a href="https://www.iwanttfc.com/#!/browse/Genres/News/tag_id_genres/id_news" target="_blank">iWantTFC</a></div>

Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian said he sees the need to investigate the matter and be briefed in full about the United States' request.

Senators raise more questions on PH-US 'deal' to house Afghan refugees

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Senators raise more questions on PH-US 'deal' to house Afghan refugees

Sherrie Ann Torres,

ABS-CBN News

Published Jun 14, 2023 07:31 PM PHT

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Updated Jun 15, 2023 10:51 PM PHT

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