Pinoy workers rush to finish terrorist jail in Cuba

The United States government is reportedly rushing the construction of additional jail cells in a US naval base on a Cuban island for suspected terrorists in anticipation of more arrests as the US-led worldwide war on terrorism continues.

A local labor recruitment agency that recently sent Filipino workers to Guantanamo Bay base told reporters that the 380 Filipinos there – mostly engineers and construction workers – have been working overtime to complete the work within the next three months.

Anglo-European Placement Services Inc. said most of the workers work even on Sundays while some for 12 hours a day.

Two weeks ago, 180 mostly construction workers were sent to Guantanamo Bay to build 200 additional cells inside the US Navy base where nearly 600 suspected al-Qaeda terrorists captured in Afghanistan are being held prisoner.

Anglo-European said the workers don’t mind doing overtime work because they get paid.

"The workers live in adequate quarters, getting the same meals as American soldiers and earning an average of $1,500 to as much as $2,000 a month with all living expenses free. They are even getting a daily supply of beer after work," said an agency official, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

The official also disclosed that 20 of the workers were deported only a month after they got there for trying to organize a labor union among the Filipinos.

Most of the workers there were already looking forward to having their contracts extended after they have completed the detention facility.

"They are hoping that there will be other construction work inside the naval base aside from the detention cells or, in case the US invades Iraq, then there will be a need for more detention quarters," the agency said.

Washington had earlier threatened airstrikes against Iraq for violating ceasefire agreements concluded after the 1991 Gulf War.

The detainees in Guantanamo Bay were captured last year after the US toppled the Taliban religious militia that then controlled much of Afghanistan.

Shortly thereafter, Washington was criticized at home and abroad for not according the detainees their rights as prisoners-of-war guaranteed by international law nor as criminal suspects guaranteed by US law.

Citing legal arguments, the US government said the detainees were ineligible to such rights, and went to great lengths to show that they were being treated well.

Washington toppled the Taliban in the aftermath of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks nearly a year ago after the militia refused to hand over al-Qaeda mastermind Osama bin Laden.