18 February 2004 – All 96 members of the Philippine Humanitarian Contingent to Iraq are safe and secure.  This was the assurance given by Acting Foreign Affairs Secretary Rafael E. Seguis after a carbomb exploded today near Camp Charlie, in Hillah, 60 miles south of Baghdad.

“I have spoken to Charge d’Affaires Eric Endaya, who is one of our most experienced hands in the Middle East and who was with me when I was assigned to Baghdad.  He told me that all the members of our Humanitarian Contingent are safe.  He also told me that because of some flying debris like glass fragments from nearby buildings, twelve members of our Contingent suffered some scratches,” Acting Secretary Seguis said.  The carbomb killed two Iraqis and wounded eight soldiers, including six Poles, a Hungarian and an American. None
of the injured soldiers' wounds were considered life threatening.

Acting Secretary Seguis said that 7 from the Armed Forces of the Philippines, 3 from the Philippine National Police and 2 from the Department of Health were treated for superficial wounds.

“I would like to express, on behalf of our Government, our strong condemnation over this recent attack.  I would also like to extend our deepest sympathies to the families of the two Iraqi civilians who were killed and pray for the quick recovery of those injured,” the Acting Secretary added.

“We are also in close touch with our Contingent and they have taken additional measures to ensure their security.  I have instructed Mr. Eric Endaya to immediately proceed to Camp Charlie to give us a further assessment of the situation,” the Acting Secretary said.

“Even though there were two casualties, the fact that the carbomb was unable to explode inside the camp and the fact that a second carbomb was stopped before it could do any damage shows that adequate security measures are being undertaken.  However, I have asked our force commander to take all additional measures that he deems necessary to protect the lives and safety of our people,” Acting Secretary Seguis added.

When asked if the Acting Secretary would recommend that the Philippine Contingent be withdrawn because of this latest incident, Mr. Seguis said that he has forwarded a recommendation to Secretary Delia Albert (currently on an official visit to Laos) and to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo that the Philippine Contingent stay unless it is clear that there is a direct threat to their safety.

“The safety of our Contingent members is of paramount concern. At present, there are no direct threats to our people. Our Contingent members have an excellent working relationship with the Iraqi people and have received recognition not only from the Coalition and the international media, but also from all sectors of Iraqi society for the great job that they are doing,” Mr. Seguis said.

“They are making a big difference in the lives of the Iraqi people and represent the best that the Philippines has to offer in contributing to the future of Iraq and to the stability of the Middle East,” he added.

“We will not let terror defeat us. We share in the resolve of all the other members of the Coalition, particularly those which have suffered in terms of lives lost, to stay in Iraq and to help the people of Iraq create a free,
democratic and pluralistic society,” Acting Secretary Seguis said. END.