Foreigners can’t join activist rallies in the Philippines!

by Babel-Fish | July 24, 2009 at 07:05 pm

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THE Bureau of Immigration (BI) warned foreign nationals to refrain from participating in mass actions on Monday when President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo delivers her last State of the Nation Address (Sona).

In a memorandum, BI Commissioner Marcelino Libanan instructed lawyer Faizal Hussin, BI intelligence chief, to investigate any foreign activist who will be spotted among the ranks of the protesters so they could be subjected to deportation proceedings.

At first i thought that journalists and citizen journalist could be deported by attending rallies to report on them. But in fact its not the case thankfully, but the problem that I have with this statement from the Filipino imigration department is it could lead to mistakes made on purpose to stop foriegn reporting and reporters being arrested.

Today being Global Action day to support the people of Iran concerning human rights. I am now wondering if foriegners attending and supporting this event to day in Manilia could get into trouble. In theory they should not as it is not an event that is seem to be a concern to the Filipino government. But what if it leads to demonstation outside the Iranian embassy this could be seen as an embarrasement to the Philippine government?

It would therefor be wise as a foriegner not to go near the Iran embassy in Manila today if they attend the rally.