26 September 2005 – Foreign Affairs Undersecretary for Special Concerns Rafael E. Seguis today received from retired Brig. Gen. Raymundo T. Jarque his letter recounting the detention he and Mrs. Zenia Jarque experienced under US Immigration authorities at the Dallas International Airport in Texas last 20 September 2005.

“The Department will act on General Jarque’s letter and will look at each point that he has raised,” Undersecretary Seguis said, adding that  “we sincerely understand General  and Mrs. Jarque’s sentiments and the difficulties they encountered as a result of this experience at the Dallas International Airport.”

Gen. Jarque and Zenia were detained and denied entry to the United States due to General Jarque’s inclusion in the U.S. terrorist watch list for his prior affiliation with the National Democratic Front.  General and Mrs. Jarque had decided to sign papers for their immediate return to the Philippines and that they were not interested to challenge the decision of the US Immigration authorities in Dallas.   But prior to that decision, the Philippine Consulate General in Los Angeles, which has consular jurisdiction in Texas, has communicated with lawyers to assist Gen. Jarque in this immigration case.

Gen. and Mrs. Jarque arrived back in the Philippines on Friday, 23 September 2005.  END
 
 

 /bjg