HIV-Positive Marcelino Cavestany Deserves a Public Apology After Getting Blacklisted by Immigration Officials

Marcelino “Mars” Cavestany has been in the news in the last couple of days after he was prevented from entering the Philippines in lieu of a blacklist order issued by the Bureau of Immigration.

Cavestany, who is a naturalized Australian citizen, is visiting the Philippines to make a film about HIV-AIDS awareness campaign.  However, when he arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) on March 6, immigration officials did not allow his entry into the country.  The reason is that according to the black list order issued by former immigration chief Marcelino Libanan, Cavestany is going to spread HIV virus in the country.

With the humiliation, Cavestany reportedly suffered from chest pains and got confined in a hospital

The Filipino-Australian said that the black list order may have been requested by an NCAA official that he figured in a fight with before.

With the review made by the present immigration officials, Cavestany was allowed to enter the Philippines citing international laws and local jurisprudence protecting the rights of individuals even those with HIV.

Officials were urged to conduct an investigation into the incident with the Commission on Human Rights at the forefront.  The CHR also said that Cavestany deserves to receive a public apology from those who crafted the black list order.

Photo credit: mgfind.com