I wish to reiterate at this point that the Philippine Embassy in Iraq headed by Chargé d’Affaires Ricardo M. Endaya is working on my instructions to continuously monitor the condition of Filipinos who enter Iraq as OFWs despite the deployment ban currently being imposed by the government.  CDA Endaya reports periodically to the DFA Home Office and is in constant communication with the Office of the Undersecretary for Migrant Workers’ Affairs (OUMWA).  In view of the deteriorating security situation in Iraq, I have instructed CDA Endaya to render all possible assistance to OFWs in Iraq.  He is also making sure that OFWs who wish to be repatriated are sent home most expeditiously.

The media earlier reported on the Government’s contingency plans for Iraq, which are based on levels of security in that country.

The Philippines remains firm in its policy of temporarily suspending the deployment of Filipinos to Iraq since the primary consideration of the government at this point is guaranteeing their safety and protecting their lives.  The DFA is working closely with its partner agencies in the Philippines, particularly with the Department of Labor and Employment, as well as with other governments, in ensuring that this preventive ban is enforced for  the benefit of the Filipino worker.

The DFA has recently reported to the Presidential Anti-Illegal Recruitment Task Force (PAIRTF) the Manila-based recruitment agency, which aids and abets foreign-based contractors and sub-contractors in hiring Filipinos for deployment to Iraq.  The PAIRTF has already placed this recruitment agency in its watch list.  The DFA and our Embassies in the Middle East are also making continuous representations with the governments of countries bordering Iraq to support the Philippines’ deployment ban by not allowing Filipino workers based in their respective countries to cross the border and enter Iraq.

Moving to another topic, I wish to clarify a certain news item that appeared yesterday, concerning an official from the Philippine Embassy in Amman, Jordan, and another one from DFA-OUMWA who allegedly extorted money from two distressed OFWs who wanted to be repatriated from Jordan.  I was informed that the news item used the very unsavory term “ginatasan ng DFA,” which I now refute as pure falsehood.  Walang ginagatasang OFW ang DFA o ang mga Embahada natin.

The news article cited two Filipinas who used to work in Amman, Jordan, before coming home last week.  They are Ms. Jo-Ann Sanchez and Ms. Herminia Miranda.  I was informed by OUMWA that Ms. Sanchez and Ms. Miranda even went to their office on Friday, 15 October to personally thank the DFA for the assistance given to them, which allowed them to be repatriated immediately.  When the article came out yesterday, the two ladies once ag-ain came to the DFA to clarify with OUMWA personnel that they had nothing to do with the negative things that came out in the said article.

Ms. Sanchez and Ms. Miranda also executed signed statements testifying that neither one of them gave any amount to any official of the DFA.  They further testified that the money they needed: $500 each as fee for their Iqama or working and resident’s permit, which they reimbursed to their employer, and $375 for their plane fare, were sent to them directly by their family through money transfer.  No amount of money passed through the hands of DFA or Embassy officials.

In the light of this gross misunderstanding, I wish to stress that the DFA and the Philippine Foreign Service remain committed to upholding the third pillar of Philippine policy, that is, to promote the rights and welfare of Filipinos overseas.  I call upon our kababayans abroad not to hesitate to seek help from our embassies and consulates for whatever concern.  Their families here at home can also approach OUMWA on the third floor of the South Wing of the DFA building.  END.