Senator Robinhood “Robin” Padilla on Thursday appealed to the government to adopt a less restrictive approach toward refugees and stateless persons, particularly those displaced by armed conflict, violence, persecution, and insecurity.
Sen. Padilla made this appeal during his message of solidarity at the culminating activity for the 10-year implementation of the National Action Plan to End Statelessness in Makati City.
According to the senator, many refugees and stateless persons are Muslims, and he emphasized that the government can take action to assist them.
“Perhaps what can help us is that the DOJ (Department of Justice) is there,” Padilla stated.
In February, Padilla filed Senate Bill 2548, which aims to strengthen the Philippine government’s protection for refugees and stateless persons, especially those displaced by armed conflict, violence, persecution, and insecurity.
He explained that the bill seeks to institutionalize the policy for determining eligibility for protection for refugees or stateless persons by creating a Refugees and Stateless Persons Protection Board, which would be an attached agency of the Department of Justice.
The bill also prohibits the state from removing or expelling a refugee, except on grounds of national security or public order, from the Philippines to a country where he or she would face a risk of persecution.