The livid Dutchman who was photographed berating a police officer to tears during the protests during the State of the Nation Address on Monday is among the foreigners being investigated by the Bureau of Immigrations (BI) for possible violations of their stay.
In a statement, Immigration officer-in-charge Siegfred Mison said his office is studying whether some foreign nationals who took part in the demonstration along Commonwealth Avenue during the President’s annual report to Congress could be deported.
“We are verifying their identities and visa status and if there is basis to initiate deportation proceedings against them,” Mison said.
While the probe is still in its early phase, the BI only identified Dutch activist Thomas Van Beersum, 30, whose picture made headlines and drove Internet traffic earlier this week. In the widely-shared photograph shot by a local lensman, Van Beersum was seen heckling a police officer, who apparently lost his composure and broke down in tears from the remarks of the activist.
In succeeding photographs, Filipino rallyists consoled the sobbing cop, who was identified as Police Officer 1 Joselito Sevilla. the incident has been described as a scene evoking memories of the peaceful 1986 People Power revolt. Back then, civil society led by nuns and religious folk offered rosaries and flowers to heavily-armed soldiers who were sent to quell the protest, but defected from the military leadership.
When the ranks of the riot police took note of the weeping policeman, Sevilla was pulled out from the frontline. He has since disappeared, and authorities say he has gone on a two-week leave.
Sought for comment by a local newspaper, Sevilla’s wife appealed for privacy, saying that she did not know where her husband was.
As Sevilla’s moving image stirred a buzz online, Van Beersum posted an open letter explaining his actions. He asked Sevilla to quit the force and join the ranks of activists like him.
The letter sparked a flurry of angry remarks, leading to calls for the BI to deport him.
Mison explained that foreign nationals who take part in demonstrations could be deported or ordered to leave the country if their actions constitute “overthrowing the government, unlawful destruction of property and violation of the conditions of their stay.”
In addition to deportation, the bureau could include foreigners in its blacklist and have them banned from reentering the country, the official continued. Mison maintained temporary visit visa holders should not join protests because it was “tantamount to meddling in the country’s internal political affairs.”
Bureau records showed that Van Beersum arrived in Manila on June 13 as a tourist, therefore he was allowed to stay for an initial 21 days, according to Immigration spokesperson Ma. Antonette Mangrobang.
She echoed Mison’s contention that Beersum should not have taken part in the protest “because it meant violating the limitation and condition of his admission and stay as a temporary visitor and non-immigrant.”–MM
—
Photo: Facebook page of Thomas Van Beersum
