Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo. INQUIRER.net file photo / Ryan Leagogo
MANILA, Philippines — Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo and Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose Manuel Romualdez will face senators on Friday for the “urgent inquiry” on the proposal to temporarily house special immigrant visa (SIV) applicants from Afghanistan in the Philippines.
The office of Senator Imee Marcos, who heads the chamber’s foreign affairs committee conducting the probe, said Thursday that Manalo would be attending the hearing.
“As of now, only Secretary Manalo, and Senators [Koko] Pimentel and Senator Jinggoy Estrada have confirmed [their attendance],” Marcos’ office told reporters in a Viber message.
In a message to the Inquirer, Romualdez also said he will be attending the hearing, albeit virtually.
The panel announced on Wednesday that a public hearing will be held, instead of an executive meeting, “due to the significance and urgency of the matter.”
It was Marcos who filed a resolution seeking the probe. She raised doubts about the intention of the US in proposing the temporary stay in the Philippines of the SIV applicants from conflict-stricken Afghanistan.
She pointed out that other countries are geographically closer and are “better equipped” to accommodate the SIV applicants from conflict-stricken Afghanistan.
“The fact that the US opted to house these foreign nationals in another country and not on US soil, even though these individuals are supporters of the US and, possibly, even former employees of the US government or US companies, casts doubt on the character and background of some of these individuals,” Marcos also said.
Romualdez previously said that holding a public inquiry on the issue was a welcome move, so the proposal “can be properly vetted and discussed.”
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