Native-born Indonesians in Mindanao Registered
May 11, 2005
A thorny issue in the interrelationship between neighbors in Southeast Asia, illegal immigrants everywhere have been hounded by authorities for a variety of reasons, mostly economic. Unregistered aliens compete with locals for jobs and business opportunities, and in most cases elbowing out the locals who prefer more lucrative jobs and decent working conditions. After 9/11, terrorism plague Asian security when the US tagged specific locations particularly in Mindanao, as haven and training grounds for terrorists.
In many parts of Southern Mindanao, the presence of Indonesians and other foreign nationals became the focus of security when the key terrorist figures were identified as migrants from neighboring countries. However, there were also Filipinos living and working in other countries, mostly unregistered, particularly in Malaysia. Although unregistered Filipinos were treated badly abroad, Secretary Raul M. Gonzalez approved a program to remedy the situation by launching an alien registration drive to legalize their stay in the country and to identify illegal immigrants in their permanent place of residence.
This concept is not new. In year 2003, a similar project was conceptualized and a registration drive was launched. It was a slow process, and this time, because of the need for speed and focus, the program was fine-tuned to allow for more proactive implementation. The concept was finally assigned to Associate Commissioner Franklin Z. Liattaua who was given the green light by Commissioner Al F. Fernandez, Jr. and Secretary Gonzalez.
Commissioner Fernandez issued memorandum order AFF05-003 on January 4, 2005 outlining the procedure and guidelines in the issuance of alien certificates of registration (ACR) to native-born Indonesian nationals in Southern Philippines, signaling the implementation of the project.
As of April 26, 2005, some 2,448 native-born Indonesians were registered in Mindanao: 247 in General Santos, 371 in Glan-Sarangani, 265 in Davao del Sur, 108 in Davao City, 339 in Kiamba, Tupi and Malapatan, another 253 in Sarangani Island, 341 in Isulan, Sultan Kudarat and Kidapawan, and an additional 154 in Sarangani and Davao del Sur.
The registration of illegal aliens in a manner that is human and respectful of their dignity, showcase our deep concern to offer immigrants a niche where they can live and raise a family in an alien world. Notwithstanding the ill treatment our OFWs often receive in the hands of foreign employers, this program is touching the lives of thousands of illegal aliens, which we hope will become the model for similar programs abroad.
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