Former president Rodrigo Duterte offered an explanation into Vice President Sara Duterte's decision to oppose offering temporary shelter to some 50,000 refugees from Taliban-led Afghanistan.
In the latest episode of SMNI News Channel’s “Gikan sa Masa, Para sa Masa,” the former chief executive said that it was a matter of “national interest” for his daughter and that she would be “reconcilable.”
“I would say that knowing her, my daughter, reconcilable ‘yan in a stand against the entry of the foreign national or refugees,” he shared.
“Mainly, I think she based it on the threat to our national security. Wala namang iba ‘yan. Walang naman bias ang babaeng ‘yan (There’s nothing to it. That girl has no bias).”
The former president furthered that the younger Duterte may simply be “projecting” that “things won’t be good for us” because the refugees have been rocked by insurgency and terrorism problems.
“And there is no guarantee that it is America who are now vetting for them or vetting and asking to be accepted is the correct I’m sure excuse in the matter of waving our right against the entry of (foreign) national(s),” he added.
Duterte himself is not totally against allowing the refugees to enter the country, citing the Philippines’ obligations as a member of the United Nations (UN) and that this had been done before.
“I am not really for the total banning. Ang gusto ko lang (What I want) is a standard set in the highest form in the levels of national security that we are really protected as a people,” he said, adding that it was an “absolute” for the younger Duterte.
His remarks came after the Vice President opposed a request from the United States to allow 50,000 Afghans fleeing their Taliban-led country to the Philippines prior to their relocation to the US.
In a letter to the Anti-Terrorism Council (ATC), she discussed the possible security threats and violations of the country’s sovereignty as reasons for her opposition to the request.
The US aims to use the Philippines as a transit point and “processing center.” A similar request was asked from Germany.
Philippine Ambassador to Washington Jose Manuel Romualdez earlier disclosed that the refugees would be housed in the Philippines for two weeks and the cost of their stay would be shouldered by the US.