Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin “Boying” C. Remulla vowed to ‘faithfully sustain’ the State’s commitment to its international partners that this administration will always ‘prioritize’ the welfare of refugees, political asylums and stateless persons.
This as the Department of Justice - Refugees and Stateless Persons Protection Unit (DOJ-RSPPU) spearheaded yesterday the celebration of the first-ever National Refugee Day Forum highlighting the unwavering efforts of the Philippines to uphold international comity by opening its borders to people forced to flee their homelands amidst violence, war or political persecution.
Pursuant to Presidential Proclamation No. 265 series of 2023 declaring 20 June of every year as the “National Refugee Day”, all agencies and instrumentalities of the national government, including Government-Owned or-Controlled Corporations (GOCCs), state universities and colleges, local government units (LGUs), non-government organizations (NGOs) and even the private sector, are all mandated to actively participate and support the effective implementation thereof.
This event also coincides with the World Refugee Day which commemorates the courage and bravery of forcefully displaced persons.
“Today’s forum is a testament to the Philippines’ commitment to providing and expanding protection space to persons who seek refuge, safety and protection from persecution in whatever guise or form,” Undersecretary Raul T. Vasquez said.
“Aligned with the long-standing humanitarian tradition of the Philippines, our doors remain open to provide international protection to the forcibly-displaced and stateless persons to assist them in finding durable solutions to their circumstances,” stated Chief State Counsel Dennis Arvin L. Chan.
As State party to the 1951 Refugee Convention and its 1967 Protocol and the 1954 and 1961 Statelessness Conventions, the Philippines has pledged to provide protection to individuals forced to flee their home countries due to violence and persecution and address statelessness.
Secretary Remulla talking to the international community averred, “The State is whole-heartedly committed to upholding its international comity and relations with paramount consideration at all times, the Philippines will perpetually remain as a home, and its people a family, to our brothers and sisters overseas seeking refuge.”