MANILA – Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin, Jr. announced on Wednesday night that the Philippines has welcomed the first Afghan refugees since the Taliban took control of Afghanistan three weeks ago.
“We stay steady where others waver: tonight we welcome Afghan nationals including women & kids seeking refuge. Our doors are open to those fleeing, conflict, persecution, sexual abuse and death,” he said in a tweet.
However, Locsin stated that no further information will be released to the public in order to protect the refugees’ safety and privacy.
“The matter is closed. We’re not interested in publicity or thanks. This is done so one can look at himself in the mirror. Period,” he said.
Malacañang said on August 17 that the Philippines’ doors are open to Afghan people fleeing the Taliban’s reign in Afghanistan.
Although the Philippines has no fixed quota for the number of refugees it will accept, Locsin previously stated that the country will only welcome refugees on a government-to-government basis.
“We will not entertain any request for asylum coming from NGOs, however well-meaning or reputable, or any other non-state parties,” he said in a tweet Monday.
“I predict that refugees will be the next lucrative order of business, having plenty of cash in hand or in foreign bank accounts. The temptation will be resistible to help them and help oneself to them. That will never happen under this administration or in my watch,” he added.
