DFA verifying if 300,000 Pinoys will be deported from US
MANILA, Philippines - The government is now trying to confirm reports that about 300,000 undocumented Filipino workers in the United States will be sent back to their homeland.
At a televised press briefing on Tuesday, Presidential Communications Sec. Sonny Coloma said they have asked the Department of Foreign Affairs this morning to verify such reports. He added that the government will be ready to assist the Filipinos who might be deported.
"As soon as we get such verification, we will advise you accordingly, but we are committed to the principle of extending protection to all Filipino nationals wherever they may be and that is the approach that we are taking here," Coloma said.
Local media reports on Tuesday said Eastern Samar Rep. Ben Evardone asked US Ambassador to Manila Philip Goldberg to support the Philippines government's request to designate the country under a Temporary Protected Status (TPS).
According to the reports, Evardone also asked Goldberg to recommend to US Pres. Barack Obama the immediate approval of the request.
A TPS defers the possible deportation of the Filipinos and allows them to work legally in the US. However, it does not grant permanent residence status to aliens.
Evardone reportedly said that the granting of the TPS could help the Philippines' rehabilitation efforts and recovery from Super Typhoon Yolanda due to the remittances of the Filipinos who would be declared as legal workers in the US.
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