MANILA, Sept. 20 (PNA) — The Philippines will do its “fair share” in helping the Syrian refugees, Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary (PCOO) Herminio Coloma Jr. said on Sunday.
Secretary Coloma reiterated President Benigno Aquino III’s prior statement that the country will adhere to its commitment as signatory to various conventions on refugees.
“Ang mahalaga, na paano ba maituturing kung ano ang ‘fair share’ na dapat nating gampanan, at ang magiging batayan nito ay ang ating pagkakaroon ng resources. Ito po ang batayan ng ating kakayahan,” said Coloma.
“Kaya lang, bago tayo gumawa ng kahit anong pahiwatig o commitment, ay kinakailangan din namang suriin ang ating sitwasyon; at sa pagtatalakay sa UN at sa iba pang mga organisasyon kung ano ang magagawa natin, ipaparating natin sa kanila ‘yung ating pagtaya sa ating kakayahan para ito ang magiging batayan ng ano mang pakikipag-usap,” he added.
In the past, the Philippines has hosted various nationalities who sought refuge, including Rohingya people of the so-called boat people from Myanmar and Bangladesh; Uighur, mostly Muslim people from the Chinese province of Xinjiang which borders eight countries – Mongolia, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan and India.
Vietnamese refugees also took refuge in Palawan, when they fled following the fall of South Vietnam to the communists.
At the height of World War II, the country also took in Jewish refugees under President Manuel Quezon. (PNA)