Israel needs reminding of Quezon's efforts on behalf of Jews –senators


By AMITA LEGASPI, GMA News
Amid the looming deportation of Filipino workers and their children from Israel, senators on Monday urged the Department of Foreign Affairs to remind Israel of President Manuel Quezon's effort to save Jews during the Holocaust.
“I have a piece of advice, kindly remind them of Manuel Luis Quezon during the Holocaust and maybe they will be more humane treating our Filipino children there,” Senator Panfilo Lacson said during a Committee on Foreign Affairs hearing.
Minority Leader Franklin Drilon, on the other hand, suggested showing the movie on Quezon's efforts to shelter Jews from the Nazis.
“I think the movie is called Quezon’s Game. Maybe it’s time for that movie to be shown in Tel Aviv. A little effort on the part of our Embassy there, for a little expense it may show how ungrateful they are if they proceed on what they are trying to do,” said Drilon.
Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. believed the suggestion to be sound. “Mr. senator, it will be done. It won’t even be considered, it will be done,” said Locsin.
As for Lacson's proposal, the Foreign Affairs Secretary said the DFA had initiated the process that would include Quezon in the list of those who saved the Jews.
“They said the category is they must have personally risked their lives like Raoul Wallenberg, a Swedish hero. I said Quezon risked even more than his life, he risked his political career. Those of us who come from politics, believe me, that’s worth more than life,” Locsin said.
“He did it at a time we were a colony of the United States. He had no authority to bring in the Jews but he took them in because it was the decent thing to do. He could have been removed by the United States,” he added.
However, the matter was still being debated as Quezon did not personally risk his life.
Last week, Filipino worker Rosemarie Perez and her Israeli-born son were deported. Around 100 Filipina workers and their children born in Israel are set to be deported for lack of legal documents.
The DFA said under Israeli laws, foreigners are allowed to work in the country for a maximum of 63 months and they are not supposed to have children. — DVM, GMA News

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