13 December 2005 – The Department of Foreign Affairs, Office of the Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs (OUMWA) reiterated that the ban on the deployment of OFWs to Iraq still stands and is still being strictly implemented as the Department received the report of the Philippine Consulate General in Dubai, UAE, that 88 Filipino workers who were supposed to head to Iraq were being held in the custody of the immigration authorities of the Dubai International Airport.

“The Philippine Government is strictly implementing its policy of prohibiting the deployment of OFWs to Iraq, and this policy will remain in force until we are satisfied that the safety and well-being of Filipinos will not be compromised if they travel to Iraq,” OUMWA Executive Director Pedro O. Chan said.

Consul Vicente Vivencio T. Bandillo of the Philippine Consulate General in Dubai had reported to the Department that 88 Filipinos were being held in the custody of Dubai Airport immigration authorities after they discovered that the OFWs were on their way to Iraq to work.  The Philippine Consulate General had earlier informed the immigration authorities in Dubai of the existing Philippine policy prohibiting Filipino nationals from traveling to Iraq and of the prohibition stamped ‘Not Valid for Travel to Iraq’ both in English and Arabic on page two of the Philippine passport.

Consul Bandillo informed the Department that, upon being informed by immigration authorities that 88 OFWs were being held at the airport, the Consulate immediately sent Consular representatives to the holding area of the airport to assist the Filipinos while deportation procedures were being implemented.

Consul Bandillo stated that one of the Filipinos said that they were recruited in the Philippines to work in Iraq by Tierra Mar Services, Inc., in Paco, Manila.

The Dubai Airport authorities also held in custody a Jordanian national, Mah’d Moh’d Ahmad Hamza, who was at the airport to help facilitate the travel of the Filipinos to Iraq.  Consul Bandillo said that Mr. Hamza was issued a temporary visitor’s visa to the Philippines by the Consulate in Dubai on 19 September 2005, and had identified in his visa application Tierra Mar Services as his reference in the Philippines.

Consul Bandillo assured the Department that the Consulate will continue to assist the Filipinos who are now awaiting deportation back to the Philippines, and will likewise report any new developments.  END