08 July 2005 – The Philippine Embassy in Beirut, Lebanon reported to the Department of Foreign Affairs that following their strong representations with the Lebanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants and the Sureté Generale (Lebanese Immigration), 27 of the 33 Filipino workers detained on Monday, 04 July 2005 were released from detention on 06 July.

Chargé d’Affaires a.i. (CDA) of the Philippine Embassy in Beirut Nestor N. Padalhin informed the Department that six of the 33 Filipinos, remaining at the Adlieh Retention Center, which is the Sureté Generale’s main facility in Beirut are still undergoing further investigation.

The 33 Filipinos were apprehended and taken into custody after operatives of the Jedeideh Immigration Office in Metn, Lebanon raided the apartments of the five-storey Chahine Building in Antelias between 5 to 6 in morning of 04 July.  Most of the occupants of the building are Filipinos.

The next day, 05 July, CDA Padalhin, along with two other Embassy representatives, went to Adlieh Retention Center and were allowed to visit the detained Filipinos, during which it was ascertained that the Filipinos possessed legal documents to work in Lebanon.  CDA Padalhin also negotiated with Major Talal Wehbe, Chief of the Immigration Authority’s Investigation Department for the early release of the Filipinos, citing the possible violation of the OFWs’ human rights.  Major Wehbe in turn assured CDA Padalhin that the Filipinos who did not violate any Lebanese law would be released at the soonest possible time.

On 04 July, the day of the incident, CDA Padalhin called Ambassador Aziz el Kazzi, Head of the Foreigners’ Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants to protest the raid and the subsequent arrest and detention of the Filipinos.  On the same date, the Embassy also filed a Note Verbale to formally protest the detention of the Filipinos.

The immediate action and response of the Embassy, as well as its strong representations with the relevant Lebanese authorities, resulted in the speedy release of the Filipinos on 06 July.  CDA Padalhin also reported that the Philippine Embassy continues to make representations with the Lebanese Foreign Ministry and Immigration Department to avoid a repeat of the incident and also for the welfare and release of the six OFWs still in custody.

The Philippine Embassy earlier reported that the Sureté Generale received information that the Chahine Building is being used for prostitution activities, although the Filipinos denied involvement with any such activities citing that some of them even worked for diplomats and commercial companies.  (For background, please see official DFA press release no. SFA-AGR-467-05 dated 07 July 2005).  END
 
 
 
 
 

/jay