OFWs back from Iraq

A total of 32 distressed overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who worked in a US military camp in Iraq arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) yesterday afternoon in two separate flights.

Another 36 OFWs were expected to arrive last night via Gulf Air flight GF-256 via Dubai.

The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) identified the OFWs, As Ariel Galang, Joel Meer, Arnel Villanueva, Ariel Plata, Joel Suba, Christopher Morales, Aldrin Moradillo, Dodge Simon Melecio, Alexander Soliman, Dexer Capulong, Gil Casiano, Rodelio Casuncad, Felix Espinosa, Dimiel Arevalo, Orlando Olinares, Reynaldo Antojo, Rosauro Magtoto, June Mapoy, Wilfredo Beltran, Jesus Espiritu, Elmer Dizon, Joseph Villanes, Danilo Pating, Benjamin dela Rosa, Leo Mortiz and Renato Dematuluc.

The first batch of 30 OFWs arrived in NAIA from Iraq on board Gulf Air flight GF-254 via Dubai at 12:55 p.m. The two other OFWs arrived at around 2 p.m. from Iraq on board Qatar airways, flight QR-646, via Doha, Qatar.

They were identified as Calixto Baliwag, from Batangas, and Oscar Mobilla, from Parañaque.

Most of the OFWs were hired as skilled workers, such as warehousemen, maintenance men, electricians and construction workers.

In an interview with The STAR, Dexter Capulong, 32, married with three daughters aged 9, 7 and 5 years old, and resident of San Pablo, Laguna, said he accepted the job as warehouseman in Camp Anaconda because of the offer by their recruiter of $615 a month salary for a two-year contract.

The Makati-based company that recruited the 32 OFWs hired them last year for different positions.

Capulong said there are about 1,300 Filipinos hired and deployed at Camp Anaconda. He lamented that their American counterparts were receiving about 10 times more compared to what they were offered.

Capulong also said that at first they were enticed by the high offer of their recruiter, a reason for accepting the jobs in Iraq. However, a few months later, they decided to breach their contract and come back to the Philippines due to safety concerns.

He said that since March this year, bombings occur near their camp almost everyday.

Two of those who came home yesterday were injured.

The OWWA reported that a total of 57 distressed OFWs have come home to the Philippines during the past few days.

Two others were killed as a result of mortar attacks on US military camps where the OFWs were staying.