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Thursday, May 13, 2004
Gloria seeks review of safety of Pinoys in Iraq
PRESIDENT Arroyo Wednesday ordered the Philippine Iraq Team to re-assess the safety of Filipinos staying in American camps in Iraq and to consider transferring them to safer areas if needed.
Arroyo made the directive following the death of four Filipinos who were killed in a mortar attack on a US military installation Camp Anaconda in Balad in Iraq.
The President said the camp, which employs 1,300 Filipinos, was visited thrice by special envoy Roy Cimatu before the incident to ensure the safety of the Filipinos there.
"Our OFWs (Overseas Filipino Workers) there have been registered and their safety ensured by newly-built, protective underground bunkers. It was a stroke of bad luck that they were exposed and unprotected at the time of the attack," she said.
"Nevertheless, I have instructed the DFA (Department of Foreign Affairs) and Team Iraq to make a clear-cut assessment of the safety of our civilians employed in US military installations in Iraq. If they cannot be adequately secured, they must be transferred or evacuation to safer areas. We cannot allow Filipino lives to be placed at wanton risk in a situation where unpredictable attacks are rife," she added.
The President said Filipinos working abroad should be accorded the best protection available in their places of work and residence, which the government intends to make clear with the employers and authorities concerned.
Arroyo sent her sympathies to the family of the four Filipino workers, whose identities are still being confirmed.
She said the relatives of the victims would be immediately informed and all assistance needed for the repatriation of their bodies would be extended to the victims' next of kin. JMR
(May 13, 2004 issue)
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