DFA probes how OFW mortar attack victim got into Iraq

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Monday ordered an investigation on how Jonasis Saguid, the overseas Filipino worker who died in a mortar attack in Baghdad last Friday, was able to enter Iraq despite a ban.

Saguid worked as a cook at Groundworks, Inc., located inside Baghdad's Green Zone. Aside from him, two other OFWs identified only as Julie and Rose, were wounded in the incident.

Philippine Ambassador to Kuwait Ricardo Endaya said Saguid's death was caused by a severe wound, which affected his kidney. He was pronounced dead in a military hospital.

The DFA said the travel ban to Iraq has been in place for a long time, and this could have prevented OFWs from entering Iraq.

The government also banned OFWs from working in jobs that require crossing the border into the war-torn country, like truck drivers and suppliers working from neighboring Kuwait who regularly travel to Iraq.

Lax implementation

Activist group Migrante International, meanwhile, said the incident is enough proof that the Philippine Embassy in Kuwait is lax in implementing government directives, which resulted in Filipinos still being able to enter Iraq.

Migrante said families of victims of such incidents have the added burden of following up death and burial benefits from the Overseas Workers' Welfare Administration (OWWA).

Aside from the information that Saguid is a resident of Paco, Manila, the DFA and the Philippine Embassy in Kuwait do not have other details about the victim, as of this posting.

The OWWA is also confirming if Saguid was a member of the agency. - With a report from Jing Castañeda, ABS-CBN News

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