OPLE: TRAVEL ADVISORIES ARE UNCALLED FOR; BUT NOTES THAT MANDATORY I.N.S. SECURITY REGISTRATION LIST EXCLUDES FILIPINO VISITORS

Press Release No. 014-03
10 January 2003

OPLE: TRAVEL ADVISORIES ARE UNCALLED FOR; BUT NOTES THAT MANDATORY I.N.S. SECURITY REGISTRATION LIST EXCLUDES FILIPINO VISITORS

The Philippines today maintained that negative travel advisories on the Philippines are uncalled for.

“Travel advisories paint a very unfair picture, where isolated and disparate events are seen as portraying the situation in the entire country. We have consistently objected to travel advisories”, Foreign Affairs Secretary Blas F. Ople said.

“It is regrettable that the U.S., in reviewing its ‘Public Announcement’ on the Philippines, did not take into account the situation on the ground -- the fact that other countries have revised or altogether eliminated travel advisories on the Philippines; the fact that embassies that had temporarily closed their doors have resumed full operations; and the fact that Philippine security and intelligence agencies have scored important victories against terrorists”, Ople added.

Secretary Ople made this comment upon receiving a report that the U.S. State Department today reissued its “Public Announcement” on the Philippines without substantial changes.

“We will continue to work through diplomatic channels to convince all countries which put out travel advisories on the Philippines to withdraw or amend these advisories,” Secretary Ople said.

“I do note however, that Filipinos were not included in the list of temporary foreign visitors from 20 nations who must now register with the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS). Non-immigrant male aliens over the age of 16 in the United States from these countries are required to register with their local INS office,” Secretary Ople said, to clarify some reports that Filipinos are being specifically targeted by the INS.

In a notice issued January 7, the INS said the registration requirements of the National Security Entry-Exit Registration System (NSEERS) are mandated by the Congress. "While America is an open and generous society that welcomes visitors from foreign countries, it is essential that the government know who is entering and exiting our borders," according to the release. END