Palace to Trump: Fil-Ams an asset

THE PHILIPPINES protested on Saturday US Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump’s characterization of Filipinos as a threat to the security of the superpower, pointing out that they had made “deep and varied” contributions to America.

Trump earlier said immigrants from “terrorist nations” should be barred entry to the US, mentioning Filipinos among those arrested for conducting or threatening to carry out violent attacks.

While the candidate was entitled to his opinion, Philippine presidential spokesperson Ernesto Abella said Trump should look at the contributions of Filipinos who had moved to the US.

“We’d also like to encourage him to look into the contribution Filipino Americans have made and given to the United States. They have been very productive and have made great contributions,” Abella said over state-owned Radyo ng Bayan.

He cited as an example businesswoman and philanthropist Loida Nicolas-Lewis, who served as an attorney general in the US before heading a billion-dollar conglomerate.

‘Broad strokes’

Even less known Filipinos living in the United States have been an asset to that country, he said.
Abella said Trump may have been speaking in “broad strokes” when he made his statements against immigrants, including Filipinos, and may not know what he was talking about.

“But it would help him, if he’s going to be the president, to really understand… his constituents, and the contributions of Filipinos to America have been deep and varied,” he said.

Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar said the Philippines was a peace-loving country, as attested to by Trump himself, having launched a 57-story luxury apartment building in Makati City.

“Let it be known that the Philippines and the Filipino people stand in solidarity with other peace-loving countries and individuals in fighting and opposing terrorism in all its forms,” he said.

“[Trump] did say, ‘I’ve always loved the Philippines. I think it is just a special place and Manila is one of Asia’s most spectacular cities,’” Andanar said.

Trump, a reality TV star and businessman who has never held public office but has emerged as the Republican Party nominee, has been known for making outrageous statements

President Dutere was earlier compared to Trump because of his brash personality and penchant for expletives. But the Filipino leader, a longtime city mayor and former government prosecutor, rejected the comparison, saying he was not a bigot like Trump.