Alcoy declares 2 German nationals 'persona non grata'

CEBU, Philippines – Two German nationals have been declared by the Alcoy Municipal Council as persona non grata for allegedly being “arrogant, annoying, unpleasant and rude” to several residents of sitio Cancaya, barangay Poblacion in the said town.

The municipal council had passed a resolution declaring Thomas Hudak and Wolfgang Muller undesirable aliens for “displaying unpleasant attitude to local residents”.

Townsfolk claimed that the two foreigners shouted at the children and even called their parents “stupid shit”, according to the report of the council committee on laws.

However, Mayor Nicomedes de los Santos said that it would be improper to declare the two German nationals as undesirable aliens. He believes that the offense allegedly committed by the duo is “not that grave” to declare them undesirable.

The mayor also admitted that declaring the two men as such might affect the tourism industry of the municipality.

De los Santos added that they would be leaving the matter now to the committee on tourism and international affairs of the Cebu Provincial Board, chaired by PB member Agnes Magpale, for further review and appropriate action.

The case stemmed from a petition filed by residents who claimed that the two German nationals behaved rudely since the day they arrived in their barangay.

The residents argued that they have been living in a “peaceful and harmonious” place long before the foreigners came.

In their complaint, the residents enumerated the unpleasant acts of the two German nationals like driving their vehicles in complete disregard of the safety of children, shouting at children and even calling their parents as “stupid shit” for allowing the kids to wander and play on the dirt road and its premises; and disturbing the residents while passing by the dirt road during nighttime or wee hours of the morning on board motorcycles with loud engines.”

Town officials called on the attention of the foreigners on their alleged unpleasant behavior and expletives, but the two denied the accusations.

They reportedly turned the table on the residents and accused the latter of fabricating stories. They also cited a provision of the Local Government Code of 1991 which provides that town officials could not declare them as undesirable aliens since they are not foreign dignitaries or members of the diplomatic mission of Germany subject to Article 9 of the Vienna Conventions in Diplomatic Relations.

They pointed out that they could not possibly hurl English expletives at residents since they are not fluent with the said language.

Also, they denied accusations they had been engaging in sexual intimacies in public – acts that step on cultural sensitivity - or driving under the influence of liquor which annoys local residents.

With the help of their legal counsels, the German nationals sought for the immediate dismissal of the petition for lack of merit. - Garry B. Lao/MEEV (THE FREEMAN)