Ask Aquino to lift work, travel ban

MANILA, Philippines - Facing the prospect of repatriation within two months as the US scales down its military operations in Iraq, Filipinos employed by American companies in US bases in Iraq have called on the Philippine government to lift a 5-year employment and travel ban.

The Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) estimates there are 6,000 Filipinos in Iraq. But Filipinos there say there could be 8,000 – even more – of them there. They dread the thought of having to go back to the Philippines, and facing the prospect of unemployment and loss of income.

 “Sana naman po ‘wag niyong ipagkait sa amin ang trabahong aming pinagkukunan ng pang-araw-araw na pagkain para sa mga pamilya namin, pampaaral sa mga bata, pantustos sa mga araw araw na pangangailangan (Please do not deprive us of the jobs that give us money for daily food, for the schooling of our children, for sustenance of our daily needs),” said Katrina (not her real name), a Filipina who has been employed by an American company in Iraq.

Another Filipina, Ala (not her real name), wrote an open letter asking President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino IIII to lift the ban on deployment to Iraq.
 
“Our only concern is… if this memo can be directed to our beloved Honorable President Noynoy Aquino to help us if there is any way to lift (the employment and travel) ban so we can still continue working here to support all our family… and not to be an additional burden to our country like those who are jobless right now,” Ala said.

Jirah (not her real name) said she and her compatriots are adequately protected in the US bases. Jirah’s boss, Anita Colby, Joint Base Balad Site Lead, of the Sallyport Global Holdings, even wrote the Philippine embassy in Baghdad to appeal against the impending repatriation of Filipino workers.

“I currently have to submit our company’s plan for demobilizing these individuals out of Iraq. I implore you, if any decisions are to be made on this matter, that they may be made quickly before we are forced to send these employees home,” Colby said.

She added: “I write this letter to you representing my personal experiences and opinions on behalf of my Filipino friends and employees here… I hope that the Philippine Government will move quickly to their aid and overturn this policy for workers in Iraq before the Philippine economy suffers from thousands of workers being sent home without jobs.”
 
These letters were sent as a result of chat sessions in tvpatrol.abs-cbnnews.com, conducted alongside live streaming of TV Patrol, ABS-CBN’s flagship newscast. Filipinos joined the chat and aired through this forum their fear of being sent home.  

The prospect of repatriation came as the US prepared to bring down by September to 50,000 its forces in Iraq, as part of the US plan to reduce its role in securing that country.

In a memorandum issued by the United States Central Command (CENTCOM) July 20, Colonel Richard Nolan, senior contracting officer of the Iran CentCom Contracting Command, had ordered within 20 days the identification of personnel by contracting parties, such as Jirah’s employer. A copy of the memorandum was also sent to tvpatrol.abs-cbnnews.com by the concerned Filipinos.

Nolan’s memorandum spelled out an exit plan for US contracting companies, sparking fears of massive repatriation. He said once individuals are identified, their respective companies should develop a repatriation plan for workers.

The US CENTCOM clarified that repatriation will happen 60 to 90 days after the identification of the workers.

The Philippines and Nepal were among those mentioned in Nolan’s memorandum of countries whose nationals were able to enter and work in Iraq despite travel bans.

Most Filipino workers were hired directly by agency contractors operating in neighboring countries like the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, and Jordan.

Jirah is hopeful the Philippine government would intercede on behalf of citizens, and either lift the Iraq ban or seek exemption from repatriation. She said in her latest letter to tvpatrol.abs-cbnnews.com: “Trusting for the P-Noy administration to support the cause of the masses, we look forward that this request shall be given an immediate and most favorable action. We do believe, that if the Government shall find ways to support us on this issue, we can do more to help our nation achieve the kind of economic development we have been aspiring for.”