(PH) Animal rights activists face deportation

May 1, 2009

Philippine Daily Inquirer

ts-activists-face-deportation

By Jerome Aning

First Posted 16:08:00 04/30/2009

Filed Under: Immigration, Protest, Animals

MANILA, Philippines--Immigration Commissioner Marcelino Libanan warned

foreign members of the animal rights group People for the Ethical Treatment

of Animals (PETA) on Thursday they could be deported if they participated in

protest actions in the country.

" We welcome them here as visitors. They cannot just protest here, especially

if it violates the culture of Filipinos, " said the Libanan in a press

statement.

Libanan was referring to a protest the other day at Manila Zoo by foreign

female PETA members, who wore only two-piece bikinis as they called on the

public to boycott the zoo, and on zoo authorities to return the animals to

their natural habitats.

The PETA activists gave their names to mediamen who covered the event as

Ashley Fruno of Canada, Fawn Porter of Australia and Maria Salom of

Argentina.

Libanan said the immigration bureau's travel records showed that Fruno

arrived on Nov. 25 last year and was admitted as a tourist for 21 days. The

bureau's database do not show any arrival record of passengers named Fawn

Porter and Maria Salom.

According to Libanan, the bureau can initiate deportation proceedings

against foreigners who join such mass actions, adding that they " should not

abuse our hospitality and their privilege to stay in the country. "

He added that the bureau may also place the foreigners on the immigration

blacklist of undesirable aliens to prevent them from re-entering the

Philippines.

" Foreigners should have no business joining these mass actions because it is

tantamount to meddling in our country's internal affairs, " Libanan said.

Libanan added that since the foreign activists entered the country as

tourists, their participation in these demonstrations is a violation of the

conditions of their admission and stay as temporary visitors.

He said that foreigners intending to participate in similar protests here in

the Philippines should be aware of the immigration laws which strictly

prohibit them from doing so.

Recommended Posts