US assures Phl of OFWs safety in Iraq

MANILA, Philippines – US Ambassador Harry Tho­ mas, Jr. said yesterday some American troops will remain in Iraq even after the withdrawal of forces, but there is no indication of the continued employment of Filipino workers inside the military camps.

“Our troops will still be there in a smaller capacity so we will look (Filipinos working in US military camps) at that. We always consistently assess the situation in short anyone all people especially Filipinos are safe and secure,” Thomas said in a chance interview after a roundtable discussion on combating human trafficking organized by the Philippine Judicial Academy and Court of Appeals.

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said the government will revisit the ban on the deployment of Filipino workers to Iraq based on an assessment of the situation in that country after the pull out of US forces.

The DFA announced last year that the decision allowing Filipino workers to finish their contracts was approved by a high-level inter-agency committee tasked to assess the security situation and safety and welfare of Filipino workers in Iraq. –Pia Lee-Brago The Philippine Star