Philippines embassy in Washington hopes for immigration policy changes

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines’ top diplomat in Washington hopes for changes in the United States’ immigration policy after the Democrats won both the House and the Senate in the midterm elections.

Ambassador Jose Manuel Romualdez said he is hopeful of a different kind of approach on immigration.

“There could be some changes because the Democrats have been pushing for a different approach especially in detention and arrest of illegal aliens in the US,” Romualdez said in an interview on Super Radyo dzBB yesterday.

The Philippine embassy in Washington advised Filipinos in the US who have concerns regarding their status to consult a qualified immigration lawyer as the authorities began reviewing visa policy.

Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump’s visit to the Philippines to participate in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Summit this month is expected to be short, Romualdez said.

“Peace and security for us here in the Indo-Pacific region is important which is why President has committed,” he said.

Trump last visited the Philippines on Nov. 12–14, 2017, to attend the 31st ASEAN Summit Meeting in Manila during his first presidential term.

He is also set to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Shenzhen, China on Nov. 18-19.

Americans in Phl insurgency?

The National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) yesterday welcomed reports that US authorities are looking into the possible involvement of American citizens and organizations to the communist insurgency in the Philippines.

The NTF-ELCAC said the National Democratic Front disclosed inquiries by the Federal Bureau of Investigation involving the family of an American activist detained in the Philippines.

Gabe Pasion of Anakbayan allegedly claimed during a press conference in Baltimore that his family had received repeated calls, home visits and workplace inquiries from FBI personnel and the US embassy in Manila.

In January, Filipino-American Chantal Anicoche of Maryland was recovered near an armed encounter in Abra de Ilog, Occidental Mindoro. She reportedly traveled to the Philippines intending to stay in a rebel camp before her repatriation.

Pasion’s sister, Christina, who had traveled with Anicoche, remained with the communist movement before she was taken into custody in July following a raid on a suspected communist safehouse in Laguna.

The US embassy issued a security advisory in May warning American citizens against NPA recruitment and involvement in armed insurgency activities.

“The Philippine government stands ready to cooperate and share relevant intelligence with the FBI and other competent American authorities,” NTF-ELCAC spokesperson Liza Fidelis Cañada said.