Comedienne Ai-Ai delas Alas and filmmaker Darryl Yap can still enter Quezon City despite being declared "persona non-grata", the councilor who pushed for the censure said Wednesday.
Censuring Delas Alas and Yap was "symbolic" in nature, said Councilor Ivy Lagman, after the duo produced a video wherein the city's seal was defaced.
EXPLAINER: What Does 'Persona Non-Grata' Mean in the Philippines?
While diplomats who are declared "persona non-grata" can be barred from entering a country or can be recalled to their home countries, that's not the case for Delas Alas and Yap, Lagman told One PH.
"Makakapunta po sila because this is just a resolution, hindi siya ordinance, wala siyang kaakibat na penalty. This is just our sentiments so puwede pa rin sila pumunta, puwede naman sila mag-transact but gusto lang namin ipaabot na 'yung ginawa n'yong pambabastos sa seal ng Quezon City, hindi siya acceptable sa mga tao sa Quezon City," she said.
Citing UN's Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations defining "persona non-grata", Lagman said "locally speaking 'di talaga natin siya mae-enforce dito sa atin 'pag sa city mismo at local ang ginawan mo so symbolic lang ba ng city council na pagsabi na ayaw namin sa ginawa n'yo so we're declaring you officially na hindi kayo welcome sa Quezon City."
The outgoing District IV councilor, who failed to secure a third term, said that the next council can lift the "persona non-grata" censure if Delas Alas and Yap apologize for "defacing" the city seal. "But I don't see it coming anytime soon because nagko-comment pa nga sila na ayaw nila mag-apologize."
"Ang problema po kasi, masyado nang below the belt 'yung mga hirit nila. Let us not normalize po 'yung pagiging bastos. Sana iniisip din natin may mga bagay na off-limits na dapat hindi natin... binabastos katulad po ng seal ng Quezon City na isa pong simbolo 'yan at isa pong pride po 'yan, we take pride in that seal."
What does 'persona non-grata' mean?
It's part of diplomacy and is enshrined in the UN's Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. This is the code of conduct that governs how governments interact with each other under the UN framework.
A person who is part of a diplomatic mission, like the ambassador, charges d'affaires or their staff, can be declared as "persona non-grata" meaning they are "not acceptable" to the host country.
This would mean that the "persona non-grata" could be recalled or terminated, meaning they should return to their home countries. It's getting booted out of a country in diplomat-speak.
The receiving state can declare someone as "persona non-grata" without having to explain its decision, which it can also do so even before the diplomat arrives.
Reportr is now on Quento. Download the app or visit the Quento website for more articles and videos from Reportr and your favorite websites.
