MANILA – The mandatory repatriation of Filipino workers in Iraq will be pushed through despite a seemingly defusing tension in the region.
Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said the mandatory repatriation in Iraq is still in effect until the safety of Filipino workers is assured.
“Tuloy ang mandatory evacuation unless it reaches a point where the safety of the Filipino workers are no longer in peril,” Panelo said. “But you cannot force our overseas workers if they prefer to stay.”
Labor secretary Silvestre Bello III announced on Thursday afternoon the mandatory repatriation has been called off in Lebanon and Iran as alert level in those countries were lowered.
“Continue pa din ang (mandatory repatriation) sa Iraq,” Bello said. “Although it was unofficial, I was informed yesterday that the alert level in Lebanon was put down to level 2 and I understand that there’s no more alert level in Iran.”
The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration, however, according to Bello, will not be processing any deployment application to the two countries for the meantime, while deployment ban is also in effect in Iraq.
Bello noted that there is no mandatory repatriation yet in Saudi Arabia. Around 2.5 million Filipinos are currently residing and working in Middle East countries, according to him.
On Wednesday, Alert Level 4 has been raised in Iraq a following the death of top Iranian military general Qassem Soleimani in a US airstrike sparked turmoil in the Middle East.
Meanwhile, Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle has prayed for peace in the Middle East during a concelebrated mass for the Feast of the Black Nazarene on Thursday.
“Ating alalahanin na sa ilang bahagi ng mundo ay nakaamba ang panganib ng karahasan. Harinawa, huwag ito umuwi sa giyera, sa digmaan,” Tagle said in his homily.
He urged Filipinos to offer prayers for the safety of those living in the Middle East, as well as Filipinos trapped in the conflict areas.
“Ipanalangin po natin na maging ligtas ang ating mga kapwa sa Middle East, humupa ang mga pagnanais na sirain ang kapwa, humupa ang mga hangarin na maghiganti, at ipanalangin ang mga kapwa Pilipino, at ang kanilang mga pamilya dito na nangangamba,” Tagle said./PN
