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Friday, March 29, 2024

Palace hits ‘trumped-up’ charges vs Pinoys in US

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THE Palace described as “unfortunate” American presidential candidate Donald Trump’s campaign call for restrictions on immigrants from the Philippines which he lumped with countries with high rates of terrorism during a political rally in Maine on Thursday.

“Let it be known that the Philippines and the Filipino people stand in solidarity with other peace-loving countries and individuals in fighting and opposing terrorism in all its forms,” Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar said in reaction to Trump’s speech.

Andanar noted that Trump even professed his love for the Philippines when he was promoting the Trump Tower at Century City, a 57-floor residential high-rise in Makati City, that is owned and developed by Century Properties Group of magnate Jose Antonio.

“I’ve always loved the Philippines. I think it is just a special place and Manila is one of Asia’s most spectacular cities,” Trump was quoted saying. 

The Palace official released the statement after Trump, the Republican candidate, launched new attacks on immigrants Thursday, telling supporters that Somalis and other refugees from “terrorist nations” should be barred entry to the United States.

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“We are letting people come in from terrorist nations that shouldn’t be allowed because you can’t vet them,” Trump, who has built his campaign around an anti-immigration platform, said at a rally in Portland, Maine. 

He then listed several immigrants, mostly from Muslim majority countries–Afghanistan, Iraq, Morocco, Pakistan, the Philippines, Somalia, Syria, Uzbekistan and Yemen–who were arrested for conducting or threatening to carry out violent attacks, teaching bomb-making to recruits, and otherwise supporting terror groups.

“We’re dealing with animals,” he seethed.

But Trump’s critics again jumped on the remarks and said the “reckless rhetoric… further proves [Trump] is unfit to lead our country.”

“For generations, Filipinos have made the United States their home… It is their vibrant culture, hard work and strong values that have enriched our communities and made this country great, not the ignorant, racist bigotry of Donald Trump,” the online news site Honolulu Civil Beat quoted Democratic Senator Brian Schatz as saying.

Schatz is the senior senator of Hawaii where Filipinos are the largest single ethnic group and comprise more than one-fourth of the state population.

The Philippines is a major trading partner for Hawaii, and Filipino-Americans have long been among the Aloha State’s most visible citizens, among them former Gov. Ben Cayetano and singer Bruno Mars.

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