RP sees hope for peace in Iraq with Zarqawi’s death

The Philippines voiced hopes yesterday that the death of al-Qaeda leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi would finally usher in peace and a brighter future for Iraq and its people.

Zarqawi, al-Qaeda’s top leader in Iraq who led a bloody campaign of suicide bombings and kidnappings, was killed in an air strike northeast of Baghdad on Wednesday.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo said the government shares Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki’s sentiment that Zarqawi’s death is a major step toward finding peace in Iraq.

"We have great confidence in the desire of the Iraqi people to build peace in their land and this latest development gives all of us renewed hopes for peace and a brighter future for Iraq and its people," Romulo said in a statement.

While the Philippines would continue to hope for peace and stability in Iraq, Romulo said there is no letup in the drive to ensure the safety and welfare of Filipinos in Iraq.

Malacañang, too, is steadfast in its stance not to compromise the safety of Pinoys who are reportedly being recruited to help US troops fight Iraqi dissidents.

Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said yesterday it would not allow the hiring of mercenaries from the Philippines to join US troops in the war-torn country.

In the first place, Ermita clarified there was no such recruitment going on.

"I haven’t heard of that. Of course we will not allow that. There is none and that is not a part of our foreign policy," Ermita told reporters.

According to a news report, a company called Blackwater USA had started arms training of recruits at the Clark Special Economic Zone.

The training at Clark, formerly the biggest US air base outside its territory, is being conducted during weekends in the guise of practicing for the civilian sport of target shooting.

The report also said that training is focused on close-quarter battle tactics, which, as the name implies, involves fighting at close range which fits with Blackwater’s initial focus on recruiting experienced close-in security personnel.

It added that Blackwater is also gearing up for the protection of "static" targets of terrorism such as civilian offices and military bases and of the supply convoys which ply the highly dangerous roads between Baghdad and Kuwait, the main American logistics base.

This is why Blackwater has set up a recruitment shop at the Subic Freeport, the report said.

The mercenaries are reportedly offered a salary of $60,000 to $80,000 annually and those targeted for recruitment are active or retired members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ special operations unit.

Meanwhile, Romulo reiterated that measures remain in place with regards to the safety of Filipinos in Iraq.

"We have required that all Filipinos in Iraq stay away from known danger areas and stay within their secure facilities. We continue to closely monitor all developments and update our contingency plans to ensure the safety and welfare of all Filipinos in Iraq through our embassy in Baghdad and through the Middle East Preparedness Committee headed by Ambassador Roy Cimatu," Romulo said.