1,000 seeking asylum in PHL

ABOUT 1,000 individuals are currently applying for refugee or asylum status in the Philippines, the Department of Justice (DoJ) said on Thursday, amid the observance of the National Refugee Day 2026.

In a media briefing at its headquarters in Manila, DoJ Refugees and Stateless Persons Protection Unit (DoJ-RSPPU) Chief State Counsel Dennis Arvin L. Chan said the applicants are mainly from the Middle East and Africa, alongside around 1,000 recognized refugees in the country.

He said asylum claims are assessed based on persecution linked to race, religion, gender, political opinion, or membership in a social group, under the Philippines’ refugee status determination system.

The DoJ and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) reiterated the country’s refugee protection framework anchored on its obligations under the 1951 Refugee Convention and its 1967 Protocol as well as the 1954 and 1961 Statelessness Conventions.

Mr. Chan said the framework is implemented through the DoJ-RSPPU, established under Department Circular No. 58, s. 2012 and strengthened by Executive Order No. 163, s. 2022, in coordination with government agencies and international partners.

UNHCR said the observance underscores shared responsibility among government, civil society, and development partners in advancing protection and inclusion for displaced populations.

A series of activities will be held throughout June, including a refugee film festival on June 20 in Manila, a forum on June 23 in Quezon City, and a solidarity food bazaar and one-stop service center at the DoJ on June 25.

The observance coincides with World Refugee Day on June 20, a global commemoration of people forced to flee conflict and persecution. — Mark Joseph M. Sanchez