The country’s vote and support for the UN resolution came as Manila called on member states to cooperate in global efforts to curtail the movements of terrorists in the strife-torn country and preventing disruption of the ongoing political process, the Philippine Mission to the UN said yesterday.
Ambassador Lauro Baja Jr., Permanent Representative to the UN, reported to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) that the Philippines voted for Resolution 1818 of 2005, strongly condemning the terror attacks in Iraq that posed a threat to peace and security in the war-torn country.
"Resolution 1618 of 2005 sends a strong message against acts of terrorism now occurring in Iraq and a robust support for the Constitution drafting process and its referendum, as embodied in resolution 1546 (2004)," Baja said.
Baja was referring to the landmark resolution that was adopted during the Philippine presidency of the UN Security Council (UNSC) in June last year.
With the unanimous adoption of Resolution 1618, the UNSC strongly urged member states to prevent trafficking in arms and the financing of terrorists.
The same resolution emphasized the importance of strengthening cooperation of countries in the region for that purpose.
The resolution described as "shameless and horrific" the attacks of recent weeks that have resulted in the deaths of children, electoral workers, constitutional experts, diplomats and other Iraqi and foreign civilians, Baja added.
The UNSC also called on the international community to support the new Iraqi government in its obligation to protect the diplomatic community, UN staff and other foreign civilian personnel working in Iraq.
The UNSC particularly expressed deep concern over the increasing attacks on foreign diplomats there.
Meanwhile, the DFA directed the Philippine Embassy in Kuwait to handle claims and benefits of overseas Filipino workers in Iraq following the transfer of the country’s diplomatic mission in Baghdad to Amman, Jordan due to the volatile security situation.
The DFA said that Philippine Ambassador to Kuwait Bayani Mangibin would be tasked with talking to employers of OFWs in Iraq and focusing on their economic claims and insurance benefits.
Being a country neighboring Iraq, the diplomatic mission headed by Mangibin would provide the nearest assistance for Filipinos working in Iraq, the DFA said.
Mangibin reported to DFA that the insurance benefits of the late Filipino truck driver Marcelo Salazar Jr. are being facilitated by the embassy.
"The insurance benefits of Salazar are now under the care of the embassy’s finance officer," Mangibin said.
Salazar was killed in an ambush attack while driving in a military convoy in Iraq last April. DFA records show there are around 6,000 Filipino workers at US military camps in Iraq.
The Filipinos in the US camps mostly work as cooks, laundry men, kitchen helpers, food servers and accountants.
At least six Filipino workers have been killed in Iraq since 2003, prompting the government to issue a deployment ban to the strife-torn country.
Three days after Salazar was killed, another OFW identified as Rey Torres was killed when insurgents opened fire on his vehicle during a shooting incident in downtown Baghdad.
Despite security warnings, Torres left the US military camp without permission from camp authorities, reportedly to buy a new ring tone for his cellular phone.
Chargé d’ Affaires Ricardo Endaya of the Philippine Embassy in Baghdad now heads the embassy in Jordan after its diplomatic operation was transferred due to the strife.
Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Jose Brillantes said much danger remains for diplomats in Baghdad prompting the DFA to transfer the embassy to Jordan which is now manned by Endaya and his staff.
The Philippine Embassy in Baghdad is now operated by local employees and remains open to address the concerns of Filipinos working in the US military camps.