'Every country has right to deny foreigners' entry'

MANILA, Philippines - President Aquino yesterday reminded the six Filipino activists who were deported from Seoul in South Korea that it is the “inherent right” of any sovereign nation to deny any foreigner entry.

“Sana we could have talked to them before they went there. And we could have had concerted actions. Primarily, each country has its right to determine who can be allowed entry and not. That is the inherentt right of every nation,” he told Palace reporters.

While Mr. Aquino was open to sitting down with the activists, who were detained at the Incheon International Airport for several hours, he said the Philippine government can do nothing once it turns out that everything was legal. “At the same time, if we do not find anything questionable about South Koreans action (of barring the Filipinos), how can we protest?” he asked. “I can’t comment intelligently on it, as much as kung kulang pa iyung data na hawak ko at this time.” “I only read about their issue in today’s paper. I would like to check on all the details as to why they were not allowed to do so,” Mr. Aquino said.

Among those who were denied entry in South Korea were musician Jess Santiago and five of his other colleagues, as Seoul goes on highest alert ahead of the Group of 20 (G-20) leading world economies summit there next week.

Seoul immigration authorities said the six Filipinos were on their blacklist, even if they all obtained their visas from the South Korean embassy here in Manila. The five others were Maria Lorena Macabuag of Migrant Forum Asia, Joseph Purugganan of Focus on Global South-Philippines, Paul Quintos of Ibon Foundation, Rogelio Soluta of Kilusang Mayo Uno, and Josua Mata of Alliance of Progressive Labor.

They all arrived in Manila at 1 a.m. Sunday. – With Rainier Allan Ronda