19 February 2004 – Acting Secretary of Foreign Affairs Rafael E. Seguis today said that a draft bill before the Dutch Parliament that seeks to expel up to 26,000 failed asylum-seekers over the next three years is not likely to affect Mr. Jose Maria Sison, even though Mr. Sison has been denied asylum status in the Netherlands. The Dutch Lower House of Parliament voted on Tuesday in favor of a bill that seeks to expel up to 26,000 failed asylum-seekers over the next three years. The bill now goes to the Upper House, where it is expected to pass.

“We have analyzed the draft bill and held intensive consultations with our Ambassador to the Netherlands, Ambassador Romeo Arguelles.  At this point, it is our understanding that this proposed law, in its current form, would not affect Mr. Sison, even though he has failed to obtain refugee status from the Dutch Government and has, in fact, been included by the Dutch Government on their list of international terrorists,” Mr. Seguis said.

When asked if the Department of Foreign Affairs would do anything to help Mr. Sison in case he falls under the Dutch law expelling failed asylum seekers, Acting Secretary Seguis, who is also the DFA Undersecretary in charge of the peace process, said that the actions of the Philippine Government in such a case would always be guided by what is best for the success of the peace process.

“It is premature to say what actions we would take, as the Philippine Government, in case this new Dutch law applies to Mr. Sison.  Suffice it to say that in such a case, we would generally be guided by what is best for our search for peace.  One of our primary concerns continues to be our desire to ensure the success of the peace process,” the Acting Secretary added.

With regard to the alleged statement made by a Second Secretary of the Dutch Embassy in Manila that the reason that this new law would not apply to Mr. Sison is that the Philippines would ‘persecute’ Mr. Sison, Acting Secretary Seguis said that there is no basis to claim that the Philippines persecutes its citizens.  He said that the Royal Netherlands Embassy in Manila has informed the Department that no such statement was made by any Embassy official and that the Embassy will be issuing a statement disassociating themselves from any news article that says otherwise. END.