MANILA – The ASEAN Committee on Security, Peace and Order, and Emergency Preparedness and Response (CSPOEPR) on Sunday warned foreign tourists and guests against joining protests during the conduct of the 31st Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit, saying this could cause their immediate deportation.
CSPOEPR Chairperson and Interior and Local Government Officer-in-Charge Catalino S. Cuy said foreign tourists do not have all the rights and privileges granted to a citizen of the Philippines, such as the exercise of political rights which is inherently exclusive to a Filipino.
“If our foreign friends are seen disrupting the summit or engaging in any political activity, we have no choice but to deport them,” Cuy said.
He said that as foreign tourists, they are expected to abide by every law of the nation and not to participate in any activity that might cause disruptions in the conduct of the summit.
Earlier, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) issued Operation Order No. SBM-2015-025, enjoining foreign tourists to observe the limitation on the exercise of their political rights during their stay in the Philippines.
The same order bars them from engaging in any political activity as defined by law, such as but not limited to, joining, supporting, contributing or involving themselves in whatever manner in any rally, assembly or gathering, whether for or against the government.
In the same manner that a law offender will be sanctioned for breaking the BI Operation Order, a foreigner proven violating its provision shall be subjected to deportation proceedings, said Cuy.
Section 7 of the Commonwealth Act No. 613 provides the deportation protocol once grounds for deportation are determined.
“You are our guests and we will accord you with our hospitality and generosity. However, you are expected to give us the same respect that we give you by following our laws while you are visiting our country,” Cuy told foreign guests.
