The Philippines is ready to welcome refugees fleeing Ukraine amid escalating conflicts with its neighboring country Russia, the Department of Justice (DOJ) said.
While the country has yet to receive Ukrainians seeking asylum, Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said that Ukraine’s citizens are welcome in the country for humanitarian reasons, and in light of the recently signed executive order by President Rodrigo Duterte.
“Should there be any (asylum seekers), (their) application for refugee status will be evaluated in accordance with our laws and the recently signed executive order,” Guevarra explained.
Duterte signed Executive Order (EO) 163 on Feb. 28 institutionalizing access to protection services for refugees, stateless persons, and asylum seekers — collectively referred to as persons of concern.
The EO is said to comply with the 1951 United Nations Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees and its 1967 Protocol, the 1954 UN Convention Relating to the Status of Stateless Person, and the 1961 Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness.
The executive order also establishes the Inter-Agency Committee on the Protection of Refugees, Stateless Persons and Asylum Seekers, tasked to provide services and assistance to persons of concern.
Local government units are encouraged to support the integration of these refugees within their communities as well as in planning local development frameworks.
