Foreigners joining political rallies face deportation

By Ferdinand Patinio, Philippine News Agency

He said visitors do not have the same rights and privileges possessed by Filipino citizens. (PNA file photo by Cristina Arayata)

MANILA – The Bureau of Immigration (BI) on Monday issued a stern reminder to foreigners that engaging in political activities is strictly prohibited under Philippine law.

BI Commissioner Norman Tansingco said there were past incidents of foreign nationals deported for participating in protests and mass actions.

He said visitors do not have the same rights and privileges possessed by Filipino citizens.

“We are issuing this reminder to prevent any recurrence of incidents where we had to deport foreign protesters. Joining political demonstrations is a blatant display of disrespect towards the country’s authorities and constitutes meddling in our internal affairs as a sovereign nation,” the BI chief said in a statement.

The BI chief issued the warning hours before President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. was to deliver his third State of the Nation Address (SONA) at the Batasan Pambansa in Quezon City.

In 2013, Dutch citizen Thomas van Beersum was deported when he joined a political protest and taunted a crying policeman, while Canadian student Kim Chatillon-Miller was sent home for participating in an anti-SONA demonstration.

In 2018, Zimbabwean national Tawanda Chandiwana, American Adam Thomas Shaw and Malawian national Miracle Osman were ordered to leave the country for their involvement in leftist activities.

“Follow our laws. It is straightforward and clear. Foreign visitors are prohibited from participating in political demonstrations. We welcome your stay in the Philippines, but we expect you to respect our government and our laws,” Tansingco added.

If found guilty of “joining, supporting, contributing, or involving themselves in whatever manner in any rally, assembly, or gathering,” the BI will blacklist the foreigners.

“Foreigners have no business joining such activities as it is a clear violation of their conditions of stay,” Tansingco said.