OFW urges RP to revive foreign mission in Iraq
OFW urges RP to revive foreign mission in Iraq
12/29/2007 | 11:24 PM
The Philippine government must move back its embassy in Baghdad from its temporary base in Amman, Jordan, as the post doesn’t serve any purpose for Filipinos in Iraq.
This is the appeal of Renee Dominguiano to authorities in Manila, saying that Amman is over eight hours away by land from areas where most Filipinos in Iraq are working.
“There are over 6,000 Filipinos in Iraq. How could the Philippine mission hope to serve Filipinos on this part of the world if it’s too far away?" Dominguiano said in an interview with GMANews.TV.
Manila authorities decided to move the Philippine Embassy from Baghdad to Amman, Jordan, when the Philippine government pulled out its troops from Iraq as part of the deal for the release of Angelo de la Cruz, a Filipino driver who was taken hostage in 2004.
The Filipino troops were part of the contingent of the US-led invasion of Iraq that began in March 2003.
Dominguiano was already in Iraq before the invasion began. The war resulted in the imposition of the ban on Filipino deployment in this troubled country.
“There are more Filipinos in Iraq than there are in Jordan," he said, adding that Philippine foreign post personnel should assess the situation of OFWs in both US and British military camps in Iraq to understand their needs and problems.
No single foreign mission of other countries left Iraq since the war began in March 2003, except the Philippine Embassy, he said.
“The Philippine mission should be moved back to Baghdad, in the Green Zone where the other embassies are located, he added.
Dominguiano, who is in Manila for his Christmas vacation, is assistant port manager of Inchcape Shipping Services based in Umn Qasr, a port city in southern Iraq. The firm provides logistics support for the British Forces in Iraq.
In October 2007, he brought the plight of the two stranded Filipino seamen in Iraq to the attention of GMANews.TV in the hope of getting the Philippine government’s assistance.
Because of his efforts and the help of concerned groups such as the Manila-based Center for Migrant Advocacy, the distressed seamen, who were stranded for four months in Iraq, were finally home in late November. - Luis Gorgonio, GMANews.TV
This is the appeal of Renee Dominguiano to authorities in Manila, saying that Amman is over eight hours away by land from areas where most Filipinos in Iraq are working.
“There are over 6,000 Filipinos in Iraq. How could the Philippine mission hope to serve Filipinos on this part of the world if it’s too far away?" Dominguiano said in an interview with GMANews.TV.
Manila authorities decided to move the Philippine Embassy from Baghdad to Amman, Jordan, when the Philippine government pulled out its troops from Iraq as part of the deal for the release of Angelo de la Cruz, a Filipino driver who was taken hostage in 2004.
The Filipino troops were part of the contingent of the US-led invasion of Iraq that began in March 2003.
Dominguiano was already in Iraq before the invasion began. The war resulted in the imposition of the ban on Filipino deployment in this troubled country.
“There are more Filipinos in Iraq than there are in Jordan," he said, adding that Philippine foreign post personnel should assess the situation of OFWs in both US and British military camps in Iraq to understand their needs and problems.
No single foreign mission of other countries left Iraq since the war began in March 2003, except the Philippine Embassy, he said.
“The Philippine mission should be moved back to Baghdad, in the Green Zone where the other embassies are located, he added.
Dominguiano, who is in Manila for his Christmas vacation, is assistant port manager of Inchcape Shipping Services based in Umn Qasr, a port city in southern Iraq. The firm provides logistics support for the British Forces in Iraq.
In October 2007, he brought the plight of the two stranded Filipino seamen in Iraq to the attention of GMANews.TV in the hope of getting the Philippine government’s assistance.
Because of his efforts and the help of concerned groups such as the Manila-based Center for Migrant Advocacy, the distressed seamen, who were stranded for four months in Iraq, were finally home in late November. - Luis Gorgonio, GMANews.TV
PayPerPost
Advertise on APSense
This advertising space is available.
Post Your Ad Here
Post Your Ad Here
Comments