Group: OFWs become walking 'targets' in Iraq

The Department of Foreign Affairs has ordered the stoppage of sending overseas Filipino workers to the following countries due to hostilities and conflicts:

*Afghanistan
A total ban on the deployment of Filipino workers in Afghanistan took effect only in 2007.

*Iraq
OFWs were prohibited from going to Iraq in 2004 after a series of suicide bomb attacks and abduction of foreigners followed the US-led war.

*Jordan
Reports of widespread abuse to Filipino workers prompted the government to ban deployment here on Jan 2008.

*Lebanon
Following the Israel-Lebanon conflict, Filipino workers were not allowed to enter this conflict-ridden country on June 2007.

*Nigeria
Deployment ban in this country was implemented on Dec. 2007.

Several OFWs have protested the imposition of the deployment ban on these countries. Reports claim that some workers resort to illegal papers to enter these conflict areas.
- GMANews.TV(Updated 6:02 p.m.) MANILA, Philippines - A group of migrant workers in the Middle East warned Malacañang against making hasty decisions in lifting the deployment ban to Iraq as Filipino workers may become unwitting targets to insurgents in the strife-torn country.

Migrante Middle East, an alliance of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), said that the situation in Iraq is still “highly volatile and risky" for the Philippine government to start deploying Filipino workers there.

John Leonard Monterona, the group’s regional coordinator, said that the US military bases that offer employment to Filipino workers become magnets to attacks.

“Since, most Filipino workers are to be deployed in U.S. Military bases like Camps Victory and Anaconda, those who will be deployed [become] ‘indirect’ targets by any Iraqi revolutionary forces," he said.

Should Malacañang lift the ban on Iraq, Monterona said that the government will be held accountable for any Filipino worker deployed there.

Since 2004, the Philippine government prohibited the entry and employment of Filipinos to Iraq following the abduction and release of Filipino truck driver Angelo dela Cruz by Islamic militants.

Despite the ban, Filipino cook Dionasis Saguid was killed inside Baghdad’s heavily fortified Green Zone after suffering fatal wounds from a mortar attack last May.

The 32-year-old Saguid was convinced by an illegal recruiter to defy the travel ban and take Dubai as an entry point to Iraq. Saguid earned $ 1,000 a month in Baghdad.

According to the DFA, more than 6,000 Filipinos are currently in Iraq, most of whom are illegally recruited or managed to sneak into the country through neighboring areas such as Abu Dhabi, Kuwait, and Dubai.

Citing US intelligence reports that the situation in Iraq has been improving, the DFA announced on Tuesday that it may re-open its embassy there within the year – a sign that is seen to signal the future lifting of the deployment ban.

“Perhaps before the end of the year if the situation improves we can re-open our embassy there," Jesus Yabes, DFA assistant secretary for the Middle East and African affairs said.
The DFA’s announcement was welcomed by several private recruiters who have long lobbied for the lifting of the deployment ban amid high demand for workers inside military bases in Iraq.

According to recruitment consultant Emmanuel Geslani, deployment of OFWs in the strife-torn country should now be allowed because the political situation in Iraq has already improved dramatically.

He said lifting of the deployment ban would give potential OFWs a chance to get high-paying jobs in Iraq. Job opportunities in Iraq usually offer salaries that range from US$ 800 to US$ 1,200 a month.

The Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE) meanwhile said that it will not recommend the deployment of Filipinos to Iraq anytime soon.

“It’s up for the [DFA] since they are the ones assessing the situation in Iraq. We are not giving any recommendations (to lift the ban)," Labor Secretary Marianito Roque said in reaction to reports that the ban has only resulted in more OFWs going to Iraq illegally. - with reports from Mark Ubalde, GMANews.TV

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