(Eagle News) — Senate President Koko Pimentel on Tuesday, April 17, expressed support for the government’s decision to deport European Union socialist party official Giacomo Filibeck, saying foreigners in general were not exempt from the laws of the country.
“There is a law here in the Philippines (and this is also generally the rule in many countries) that foreigners are not allowed to meddle in our internal politics/political matters…These foreigners who come here should not feel that they are ‘superior’ to us and hence above our laws. ALL SHOULD FOLLOW THE LAW!” Pimentel said.
He said in his case, when he visits other countries, he is “very careful not to interfere with their domestic political issues.”
He said this was because he “know(s) their law” and he was a “law-abiding citizen.”
“If we want Filipinos to follow our laws, then we should show our own people that foreigners are not above our laws!” Pimentel added.
The Bureau of Immigration ordered the deportation of Filibeck on Sunday, April 15, citing his participation as a tourist in “partisan political activities” that it said was a violation of immigration laws.
In August 2013, Thomas Van Beersum, a Dutch political activist, was deported after he was seen in a rally.