MikeLigalig.com

By Jerome Aning, Jocelyn R. Uy
Philippine Daily Inquirer
5:19 am | Wednesday, August 7th, 2013



Thomas van Beersum, a Dutch national, who was photographed standing up to and yelling at a weeping Filipino riot policeman during an anti-government protest in Manila on July 22, has his finger print taken using a secure electronic enrollment kit (SEEK) at the immigration office of the international airport in Manila on August 6, 2013. A Dutch activist blamed for making a Philippine policeman cry in an incident that drew global attention was detained on August 6, the immigration bureau said. AFP PHOTO


MANILA, Philippines—The Dutch activist who joined antigovernment protesters outside Congress during President Aquino’s State of the Nation Address last month was apprehended by immigration agents at the airport yesterday as he was about to board a flight to China.

Immigration OIC Commissioner Siegfred Mison said Thomas van Beersum was stopped pursuant to a summary deportation order issued against him last week.

Beersum, in a blue hoodie, was accosted by immigration policemen and brought to the Bureau of Immigration holding area. He was reportedly with his Filipino fiancée who was allowed to take the flight.

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BI records showed Beersum arrived in Manila on June 13 on a 21-day tourist visa.

The Dutchman, however, said in an earlier TV interview that he arrived on June 5 and his visa was good for 59 days.

Beersum was the foreigner photographed berating Filipino antiriot policeman Joselito Sevilla who was crying while standing his ground in front of charging demonstrators on Commonwealth Avenue. The photo went viral on the Internet.

Beersum denied taunting or insulting Sevilla. He said he was only asking him and the other policemen why they were attacking the demonstrators.

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“To hold him any further without a valid hold departure order or valid warrant of arrest is an open violation of international law which we certainly do not want our own fellow countrymen to experience aboard,” he said.

Olalia said Beersum should not be condemned for expressing himself and for his message.

“Though he may seem ‘unpopular’ or ‘disagreeable’ to others who are mostly unwittingly agitated by the jingoist demonization of a young foreigner whose candid views and youthful zeal sincerely questioned government’s claims—even quite emphatically—the singular incident at the Sona rally obscures the real and more fundamental issues. Is he saying something that we should listen and look into?” Olalia said.

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me too. maka uwaw pagajo

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