Manila, Philippines – President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has assured affected Filipinos by the recent immigration enforcement operations and protests in Los Angeles, California, that assistance will be provided, as announced in a Malacañang press briefing held Tuesday, June 9.
Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and the Philippine Consulate General in Los Angeles are closely monitoring the situation to safeguard the welfare of overseas Filipinos.
“Ang administrasyong Marcos, sa pamamagitan po ng DFA at ng Philippine Consulate sa L.A. [ay] patuloy pong mino-monitor ang mga recent immigration enforcement and protest,” Castro said on Tuesday.
She added, “At ang tagubilin po ng Pangulo, bigyan ng assistance ang bawat Pilipino lalung-lalo na po kung sila po ay nakabase o nagtatrabaho sa ibang bansa.”
The President’s assurance follows the recent apprehension of 55-year-old Filipino national Rolando Veneracion-Enriquez caught during an operation by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
However, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security clarified that his arrest was unrelated to the protest and was based on his previous criminal convictions including burglary in Ontario, Canada, sexual penetration with a foreign object with force and assault with intent to commit rape in Pomona.
In light of the situation, the Philippine Consulate in L.A. has since advised Filipinos to remain alrert and avoid crowd buildups while the protests continue. —Pauline Salvaña, Contributor