Persona non grata (Philippines)

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For the diplomatic term, see persona non grata.

Persona non grata, in the context of Philippine local governance, refers individuals or groups declared as unwelcome in a particular locality.

Definition[]

Persona non grata means an unwelcome person in Latin. In the context of diplomacy or international relations, a persona non grata declaration on a foreign citizen, usually a diplomat who otherwise has a privilege of immunity, is barred from entering the country which issued the declaration.[1] In the context of local governance in the Philippines, local government units (LGUs, including municipalities, cities, and provinces) could declare a person persona non grata. One such reason for a move is in response to the particular person breaking local ordinances and laws.[2]

The declaration would imply that a person is barred from entering the jurisdiction of a particular locality.[2] However, according to a Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) legal opinion, persona non grata declarations are often made through resolutions by the local legislature rather than ordinances and is merely made to express a sentiment; which effectively meant that such declarations are non-binding. In the case of the municipal council of Anahawan, Southern Leyte declaring then-newly installed Mayor Roberto Loquinte as persona non grata for their opinion of Loquinte being unfit for the position, the DILG said that the local legislature is within their right to issue the declaration but the same must be done "within the bounds of the law". It said that it could not legally prevent Loquinte from assuming the position as Mayor and/or discharging his function, an act which the DILG finds reprehensible[3][4]

Notable personae non gratae[]

The following are notable people or groups who were declared as persona non grata by local government units (LGUs) in the Philippines. This excludes foreigners who were only barred entry and/or deported by the Philippine national government but includes foreigners who were declared as persona non grata by LGUs.

Celebrities[]

Group Issuing LGU Date Background Ref.
Claire Danes Manila 1998 American actress Claire Danes after the shooting for the film Brokedown Palace was completed, was labeled persona non grata by the Manila City Council after she commented in Vogue that Manila was a "ghastly and weird city". In response to the declaration, then President Joseph Estrada remarked that Danes should not be allowed to enter the Philippines. Danes in her defense said that the remarks was made in the context of Brokedown Palace which was filmed in the impoverished parts of Manila and maintained that her comments was not reflective of her opinions towards Filipinos as a whole. [5][6]
Ramon Bautista Davao City 2014 The Davao City Council declared comedian Ramon Bautista as persona non grata for his remarks that there are many hipon in the city during a rave party which is part of the Kadayawan Festival. Hipon, which literally translates to shrimp, is a colloquial term for a person with an attractive body but an unappealing face. Bautista has apologized for his remarks. [7]

Politicians and government officials[]

Group Issuing LGU Date Background Ref.
Rodolfo Fariñas Ilocos Norte 2017 The Ilocos Norte Provincial Board declared Rodolfo Fariñas, incumbent 1st district representative of Ilocos Norte in the House of Representatives, as persona non grata after Fariñas launched an inquiry on the Ilocos Norte tobacco excise tax funds controversy. Fariñas himself is a resident of Laoag, the province's capital. [2]
Omar Mayo Baguio 2021 The Baguio City Council declared Omar Mayo, the appointed project supervisor of the National Electrification Administration (NEA) to help resolve the BENECO leadership dispute as persona non grata on October 25, 2021 after he lead a pre-dawn takeover of the BENECO headquarters with the help of armed personnel of the Philippine National Police on October 18. BENECO's leadership is disputed between NEA-appointed general manager Ana Maria Rafael and BENECO Board backed manager engineer Melchor Licoben. [8]
Marie Rafael Benguet 2021 Former PCOO Asec. Marie Rafael is declared persona non grata in the province of Benguet after the armed forceful entry into the BENECO headquarters on Oct. 18, 2021. [9]

Groups[]

Group Issuing LGU Date Background Ref.
Communist Party of the Philippines
New People's Army
National Democratic Front 		Various — The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) says that around 1,546 local government units in the Philippines (64 provinces, 110 cities and 1,372 municipalities) has declared the communist rebel groups as persona non grata as of December 11, 2020. [10][11]
Panday Sining Manila 2019 Members of the artist militant group has been declared as persona non grata for spray-painting on walls on United Nations Avenue and the Lagusnilad underpass with messages calling for the end of political repression. [12]

Usage by non-governmental entities[]

Aside from usage under the context of international diplomacy, persona non grata has been devised by non-governmental bodies in the Philippines. Such organization include the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC), a private entity. The POC in 2011 declared former Philippine Karatedo Federation (PKF) president Go Teng Kok as persona non grata for violating the Olympic body's constitution and by-laws by taking legal action to prevent the recognition of then-newly installed PKF Enrico Vasquez.[13] In 2021, it did the same to Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association (PATAFA) Philip Juico for his "malicious" public statements against Ernest John Obiena related to his federation's dispute on Obiena's accountability for the coaching fees of his coach.[14]

References[]

  1. ^ "Persona non grata for beginners". The Filipino Times. April 29, 2018. Retrieved December 13, 2020.
  2. ^ a b c Dumlao, Artemio (June 28, 2017). "Fariñas declared persona non grata by his home province". The Philippine Star. Retrieved December 13, 2020.
  3. ^ "DILG Opinion No. 30 S. 2020" (PDF). Department of the Interior and Local Government. February 7, 2020. Retrieved December 13, 2020.
  4. ^ "League of Municipalities backs Tawi-tawi judge". The Mindanao Examiner. November 27, 2020. Retrieved December 13, 2020.
  5. ^ "Claire Danes no thrilla for Manila". CNN. September 9, 1998. Archived from the original on December 16, 2020. Retrieved December 16, 2020.
  6. ^ "Manila Is Mad At Claire Danes". CBS News. October 10, 1998. Archived from the original on October 24, 2012. Retrieved December 16, 2020.
  7. ^ Hegina, Aries Joseph (August 19, 2014). "Davao City declares Ramon Bautista as 'persona non grata' –report". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved December 16, 2020.
  8. ^ "Baguio City Council declares NEA Beneco supervisor as persona non grata". Rappler. Retrieved October 25, 2021.
  9. ^ "Benguet also declares NEA Beneco supervisor unwelcome". Rappler. November 4, 2021. Retrieved November 9, 2021.
  10. ^ Hallare, Katrina (December 11, 2020). "CPP-NPA-NDF members declared persona non grata in 1,546 LGUS — DILG". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Archived from the original on December 12, 2020. Retrieved December 15, 2020.
  11. ^ Arcilla, Gigie (January 28, 2021). "CPP-NPA-NDF not welcome in Mandaluyong City, 1,545 LGUs". Philippine News Agency. Archived from the original on January 28, 2021. Retrieved January 28, 2021.
  12. ^ "Manila city council declares Panday Sining 'persona non grata'". Rappler. December 6, 2019. Retrieved December 15, 2020.
  13. ^ "POC board declares Go Teng Kok persona non grata". Philippine Daily Inquirer. June 17, 2021. Retrieved January 27, 2022.
  14. ^ Satumbaga-Villar, Kristel (December 28, 2021). "POC declares athletics chief Philip Juico 'persona non grata'". Manila Bulletin. Retrieved January 25, 2022.
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