Monday, September 24, 2007 Continuance of deployment ban in Iraq proposed
THE Presidential Middle East Preparedness Committee (PMEPC) recommended not to lift the deployment ban in Iraq due to still unstable “situation” there.
In a report submitted to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo last week, the PMEPC fact finding team asserted that a greater uncertainty is brewing following reports that the US plans to withdraw its troops in Iraq.
“As far as the present policy on the deployment ban is concerned, the team believes that the government should continue the ban up to the time that the situation in Iraq becomes normal and stable,” the fact-finding team said in their report.
The report further said “given the present realities on the ground and the present direction of the conflict, normalcy and stability may not be possible in the next months and even years.”
The fact finding team is also convinced that even if there is a change in US policy and strategy in Iraq like a troop reduction or withdrawal, “the more the ban should be implemented, as there is even a greater uncertainty whether peace and stability will be realized in Iraq.”
Aside from the continued implementation of the deployment, the PMEPC also recommended for the labor department to continue strengthening counter-measures in the recruitment of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) bound for the Middle East, specifically skilled workers bound for Dubai and Kuwait.
The PMEPC headed by special envoy Roy Cimatu together with other members of the fact-finding team left the country last August 16, 2007 to investigate the testimonies made by Rory James Mayberry and John Owens before the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform of the US Congress on July 26, 2007 claiming that OFWs were kidnapped and being maltreated in Iraq.
Investigation revealed that there are only 40 workers which include 11 OFWs that were deployed to Iraq last March 22, 2006.
However, some OFWs said they were not kidnapped and being maltreated. In fact they volunteered to be deployed to Iraq.
“The 11 OFWs were not kidnapped, as alleged, neither were they forced to go to Iraq,” the report further said.
Of the 11 Filipinos in the flight, six were hired by First Kuwaiti in the Philippines through GFI Manpower International Specialist and the other five were hired though Great Provider Service Exporters Inc.
Three of the 11 OFWs returned to the Philippines last May 21, 2006. Only eight of the 11 OFWs remain in Iraq and four of them are still connected with First
Kuwaiti.
“The Fact-Finding Team has established that the 11 Filipinos who were deployed to Baghdad on March 22, 2006 to work in the construction of the US Embassy in the Green Zone were not kidnapped, as Mayberry alleged. Neither were they forced to go to Baghdad,” it said.
They also said they were treated well and provided with good accommodation, meals, other facilities, and had access to communications. They said their passports are with them.
The Department of Labor and Employment (Dole) imposed the ban in Iraq in July 2004 after truck driver Angelo dela Cruz was abducted.
Repatriation was also offered by the government to the Filipino workers in Iraq. However, very few OFWs took advantage of the program to return home.
From 7,200 OFWs deployed in 2004, there are 6,797 OFWS that continue to work there but there are still other OFWs that find ways to sneak to Iraq despite the existing ban.
Prime Project International is the biggest employer of OFWs in Iraq. (MSN/Sunnex)
