Press Release - Sen. Robin Pushes Help Anew for Refugees amid DOJ, CHR Support for Bill

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wj9TbCrQikE

Sen. Robinhood "Robin" C. Padilla on Tuesday appealed anew to relevant government agencies to do everything to extend help to refugees and stateless persons, especially after his bill on the matter got support from the Department of Justice and Commission on Human Rights.

Padilla, who filed Senate Bill 2548 last February to strengthen protection for refugees, stressed that no less than the 1987 Constitution is the basis for extending such assistance to refugees.

"Sana po pakiusap ko po sa atin pong mga bisita ngayon, kayo po ang mas nakakaalam kung anong pwede natin gawin. Sana huwag natin kalimutan na ang ating Constitution ang unang una ang preamble niyan ay pananampalataya natin sa Diyos. Pag sinabi natin tayo naniniwala sa Diyos, kasunod niyan ang pagmamahal natin sa kapwa, maging Pilipino man o hindi," he said at the hearing of the Committee on Justice and Human Rights.

(I hope our agencies represented by the resource persons in this hearing will know what to do. Let's not forget that our Constitution's preamble is our faith in God. This includes helping our fellow people, regardless of whether they are Filipinos or not.)

"Kaya sana po sa pamamagitan po ng panukala na ito, maging malinaw po ang pwede nating gawin dito sa ating mga kababayan at doon sa mga humihingi din ng pansamantalang pagkalinga natin. Kasi hindi naman lingid sa ating kaalaman na meron ding mga Afghans na humihingi po ng pansamantala, pansamantala na dumaan sa atin habang pinoproseso. At ganoon din ang Palestino mga Pilipino na may asawang Palestino na nandito ngayon na hindi alam nila anong mangyayari sa kanila," he added.

(With this bill, I hope our authorities will have clearer roles. We are aware there are Afghan refugees asking for our help, along with Palestinians who have Filipino spouses.)

Last February, Padilla filed Senate Bill 2548 that upholds Sec. 11, Art. II of the 1987 Constitution where the State upholds the dignity of everyone along with their rights.

Padilla added the Philippines has extended help to migrants and refugees since the 1980s, including Jews during the administration of President Manuel Quezon; and Vietnamese