Government to evacuate Pinoys in Iraq despite Baghdad’s objections

Filipinos will be evacuated from Iraq despite protests from the Iraqi government.

Acting Labor and Employment Secretary Manuel Imson said the government expects the evacuation of Filipinos to be completed within five days.

"The main reason is that we are concerned over the welfare of our workers and it doesn’t mean that we are siding with the Americans," he said.

Imson said the first batch of Filipino workers and their dependents had already left Iraq by land for neighboring Jordan and that the second batch will soon be clearing out.

Imson said labor and foreign affairs officials are set to visit the Middle East to assess the situation and validate the government’s contingency plans for the evacuation of Filipinos.

The evacuation of Filipinos from Iraq is proceeding as planned, Imson added.

President Arroyo has ordered the immediate repatriation of the 121 Filipinos in Iraq amid threats of a US attack on Iraq.

But the Iraqi Embassy in Manila said there is no reason for Filipinos in Iraq to be evacuated.

An Iraqi official was quoted as saying that giving the go-signal for the Filipinos’ evacuation was tantamount to an indirect support of war.

Meanwhile, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said yesterday the Philippines welcomes the statement of US President George W. Bush for consultation with the United Nations in resolving the issue of Iraq’s compliance with resolutions of the Security Council.

In a statement, the DFA said it is the best interest of the Philippines and the community of nations to resolve the matter in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations.

"The Philippines, therefore, would welcome the cooperation of the Government of Iraq for the early resolution – under the framework of the UN Charter – of the current situation," read the statement.

"It is hoped that the issue will be resolved peacefully through dialogue and diplomacy." – Mayen Jaymalin