DoJ: Welcoming refugees our moral obligation

“Lead with empathy and action” in responding to the global refugee crisis, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla exhorted government institutions and stakeholders on Thursday, as the Department of Justice (DoJ) marked the start of celebrations for 2025 National Refugee Day.

“The work has not been easy — but we do it not only because our legal framework dictates it, but because our conscience demands it,” said Remulla during the kickoff event at the DoJ. “The plight of refugees is a global challenge that calls upon all of us to respond with compassion and resolve.”

Marking its second year, the National Refugee Day observance — led by the DoJ’s Refugees and Stateless Persons Protection Unit (DoJ-RSPPU) — underscores the Philippines’ humanitarian legacy of an open door and protective space for forcibly displaced and stateless individuals.

This year’s theme, “Strengthening Spaces of Resilience and Hope,” highlights the importance of inclusive and community-driven approaches to protection, integration and empowerment.

The week-long celebration features a series of activities including a Blue Monday solidarity campaign, a National Refugee Conference, and public engagement initiatives such as PhilSys registration for refugees, a refugee-led solidarity bazaar, a film festival and football match, and information sessions on local integration and naturalization.

Chief State Counsel Dennis Arvin Chan, who heads the DoJ-RSPPU, emphasized the value of collaboration in refugee protection.

“This is not a solitary endeavor. It is a product of dialogue and partnership with the government, civil society, and the international community,” he said.

Assistant Secretary Aristotle Valera of the Presidential Communications Office highlighted the country’s long-standing tradition of welcoming those in need.

“This legacy reflects our core Filipino values — of kindness and hospitality. Let it not be said that we closed our doors,” he said.

The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) lauded the Philippines for its continued leadership in refugee protection.

“We commend the government for advancing durable, inclusive solutions. These are not privileges, but rights under international law,” said UNHCR Philippines head Maria Ermina Valdeavilla-Gallardo.

Among those who shared their stories was Abdulkarim Alhalabi, a refugee and now an entrepreneur. “The journey wasn’t easy, but the Philippines welcomed me. This is now my home,” he said.

National Refugee Day was declared under Presidential Proclamation No. 265, series of 2023, reaffirming the country’s commitment as a State Party to the 1951 Refugee Convention and the 1967 Protocol, as well as the 1954 and 1961 Statelessness Conventions.