RP contingent to stay in Iraq after power transfer

Filipino troops and a humanitarian contingent will remain in Iraq after June 30 when a new Iraqi government takes over from US-led coalition forces, Malacañang said yesterday.

"As far as I know, the (Filipino contingent) will continue because the problems being responded to by them about developmental concerns, the humanitarian concerns are still there even if there will be a change in government," Deputy Presidential Spokesman Ricardo Saludo said over state-run Radyo ng Bayan.

However, Saludo said the government continues to assess the security situation in Iraq amid rebel attacks against coalition forces.

"We will ensure that our contingent as well as the other Filipinos who were working there in Iraq would be out of harm’s way," he said.

"And keeping our contingent there would be helpful in case there may be a situation in which there will be a need to help our countrymen working there."

Saludo made the clarification after Defense Secretary Eduardo Ermita said the government may pull out the 51-member humanitarian contingent in Iraq after the US-led coalition forces hand over power to an interim government.

"I think the statement of Secretary Ermita was in itself recommendatory," he said.

"It was not obviously a final decision. As he said, he still have to meet with the other members of his committee and the defense department, after which they would present this recommendation to the President herself.

"So it is very clear that what the secretary said is not yet fully decided yet. All I said (was) these problems in Iraq, even with the new government there, so if we can still help, we would try to help.

"But nonetheless, we shall always keep in mind the safety and welfare of our Filipinos there."

Three Filipinos working in US military camps in Iraq have been killed in separate attacks by rebels against American troops. — Marichu Villanueva