24 October 2004 – I have been informed by our Ambassador to Kuwait Bayani Mangibin that the Kuwaiti government has decided to change its policy not to allow foreign workers to cross its border into Iraq.   The decision of the Kuwaiti Government to allow border crossing into Iraq took effect on 20 October 2004.

Whilst we recognize the prerogative of the Kuwaiti Government on matters pertaining to its borders with neighboring countries in the Middle East, I wish to express my grave concern that the border crossing arrangement will certainly put in peril the safety of our workers who could be transported by their employers into Iraq.

It is specifically for the purpose of safeguarding the lives of our OFWs that our government has remained steadfast in its decision to continue the ban on the deployment of Filipino workers to Iraq despite continuing pressures from prospective workers themselves, their recruiters and employers, as well as from other quarters that see the continued need for the services of our workers in Iraq.

In the light of the Kuwaiti government’s decision, I have given immediate instructions to the Philippine Ambassador in Kuwait to make strong representations with the Kuwaiti Ministries of Foreign Affairs and of the Interior to request a reconsideration of the decision to lift the ban on border crossing especially in the case of our OFWs.   Last Friday, the Department summoned to the DFA the Charge d’ Affaires (CDA) of the Kuwaiti Embassy in Manila to personally express our government’s apprehension about the safety of OFWs who might  cross the Kuwaiti border into Iraq as a direct result of the lifting of the Kuwaiti government’s original ban.

A Note Verbale was handed over to the Kuwaiti Charge d’ Affaires expressing the Philippine Government’s concern as well as our request for his government to reconsider its decision.    The Kuwaiti CDA replied that he will immediately transmit to his government the request of the Philippine Government.

I have also instructed our Embassy in Baghdad to continue to look after the safety of our workers now in place there.  Our Charge d’ Affaires in Baghdad, Minister Eric Endaya, has been making the rounds of the various OFW worksites, which are within the U.S. military camps in different parts of Iraq.  CDA Endaya has also made representations with the employers and the military commanders in the U.S. military installations to provide our workers the needed security precautions to ensure that they are safe in their worksites.

Finally, I have instructed Ambassador Roy Cimatu, head of our Middle East Preparedness Team, to leave immediately for Kuwait to look first-hand into the condition of our workers there.   Ambassador Cimatu will also coordinate with the Philippine Ambassador in Kuwait on our request to the Kuwaiti government to reconsider its decision. END