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Monday, March 10, 2003
Go neutral, follow UN mandate, gov’t urged
By Avelyn Z. Agudon
THE government should go neutral and follow the United Nation Security Council’s decision on the issue of the impending war between the United States and Iraq, said Rep. Jose Apolinario Lozada of the 5th District.
Lozada made the pronouncement after the US, Great Britain and Spain have urged the UN Security Council to give Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein until Monday next week to completely disarm.
Lozada said should war break out, the country will face more difficulties.
“We are not prepared for a long war because our economy could not sustain it. That is why we have to go neutral and follow the UN’s decision,” said Lozada.
He further said that the government should not allude
itself into believing that the US will support Philippines if war pushes through.
“The support would be impossible,” the solon said.
Lozada further said that he is against the war, specifically if the country throws its full support on the US’ planned attack on Iraq, because the economy would be doomed to suffer greatly if Iraq will close its oil supplies.
He added that Iraq is still a major oil supplier of the country considering that 20 percent of the 60 percent of the Philippine’s oil requirement comes from it.
Twelve countries have thrown its full support on the US.
Moreover, Lozada reiterated that the impending war will displace millions of Overseas Filipino Workers in the Middle East.
Records show that there are about 1.5 million OFWs in the Middle East.
Of the number, 119 are in Iraq including the staff of the Philippine Embassy.
(March 10, 2003 issue)
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