07 July 2005 – Chargé d’Affaires a.i. (CDA) of the Philippine Embassy in Beirut, Lebanon Nestor N. Padalhin reported to the Department of Foreign Affairs that the Embassy is coordinating with Lebanese authorities in extending all possible assistant to 33 Filipinos who were apprehended and detained by the Jedeideh Immigration Office after a raid on the Chahine Building in Antelias in the early morning of 04 July 2005.  The Philippine Embassy is making representations with  immigration authorities for the early release of the Filipinos who appeared to be documented workers.

CDA Padalhin reported that right after learning the details of the early-morning raid, the Philippine Embassy immediately filed a Note Verbale with the Lebanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants dated 04 July 2005, expressing concern over the raid conducted by the immigration officials.  In the Note, the Philippine Embassy said that it would “highly appreciate it if the Ministry could investigate this incident for possible violation of human rights of the Filipinos by the Jedeideh Immigration personnel.”

CDA Padalhin also informed that he, along with two other Embassy personnel, were able to visit the 33 Filipinos who were since transferred to the Adlieh Retention Center, which is the main office of the Sureté Generale (the Lebanese immigration authority) in Beirut.  During the visitation, the Embassy representatives gave food to the detained Filipinos and obtained their statements on the events surrounding their detention.

According to the report, CDA Padalhin spoke with the detained Filipinos who confirmed to him that they were in possession of legal documents.  The Filipinos also confirmed that they are  renting apartments at the Chahine Building but with express permission from their employers.  According to the Filipinos, they were allowed to stay out of their employers’ residences from Sunday until Monday morning, as part of their day off.  CDA Padalhin found out that some of the Filipinos even worked for diplomats and commercial companies.

Meanwhile, the Embassy has updated the DFA on its efforts to secure the immediate release of the 33 Filipinos to their employers and its request for an investigation into the incident.  During the visit at Adlieh Retention Center, CDA Padalhin conveyed to Major Wehbe, Chief of the Sureté Generale’s Investigation Division, the concern of the Philippine Embassy on the detention of the Filipinos despite having the proper legal documents.  Major Wehbe responded that the Filipinos would be released soon after the close of investigations, if it is proven that the Filipinos had not violated any Lebanese law.

CDA Padalhin said that the Embassy will also make representations with the Foreigners’ Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants to follow up on the actions taken on the Embassy’s protest Note.

Between the hours of 5 to 6 in the morning of 04 July 2005, operatives of the Jedeideh Immigration Office made a sweep of the apartments in the Chahine Building, which is mostly occupied by Filipinos.  A total of 33 Filipinos, 31 women and 2 men, were apprehended and detained as a result of the raid.  According to the Sureté Generale, they received information that the building is being used for prostitution activities.  The Filipinos denied any involvement in such activities.  END