DOJ evaluates about 1,000 foreigners seeking asylum in PH

MANILA, Philippines – About 1,000 individuals from Africa and the Middle East are seeking asylum in the Philippines, according to the Department of Justice (DOJ).

Chief state counsel Dennis Chan said on Thursday that the country currently recognizes about 1,000 refugees after they were granted asylum in past years, while another 1,000 individuals are still being evaluated or processed for refugee status.

“The reason for their seeking asylum is the persecution that they are facing in their home country, which can be by reason of religion, race, gender, political opinion, or membership in a social group,” he said in a press conference for the launch of National Refugee Day, which is commemorated in the Philippines every June 20. 

The majority of those seeking refugee status also come from countries in Africa and the Middle East, noted Chan. These applications are being reviewed by the DOJ’s refugees and stateless persons protection unit. 

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Maria Ermina Valdeavilla-Gallardo, national office head of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), said that the right to seek asylum in many parts of the world is “under increasing pressure” as displacement continues to be at “near-record levels” amid growing conflicts and crises.

“Here in the Philippines, refugees and stateless persons contribute meaningfully to society as entrepreneurs, professionals, students, and community members. When given the opportunity, they strengthen communities, enrich cultures, and contribute to inclusive and resilient development,” Gallardo said during the launch at the DOJ headquarters in Manila.

Based on the latest available data from UNHCR, about 123 million people worldwide were forced to be displaced at the end of June 2024 because of various factors, such as persecution, conflict, violence and human rights violations.  /jpv