PH Embassy Intensifies Drive Against Human Trafficking of Filipinos in Iraq
Philippine Embassy in Baghdad Chargé d’Affaires (CDA) Jomar T. Sadie (second from right) visited Ministry of Interior Deputy of Police Affairs General Emad Mohammed Mahmood (third from left) along with Anti-Human Trafficking in the Police Affairs Agency in Baghdad Head Major Ali Shalal to discuss the proposed memorandum of understanding between the Philippines and Iraq on combatting human trafficking, information on trafficking routes and schemes, protection of victims, and prosecution of perpetrators on 08 September 2019.
BAGHDAD 07 October 2019 — The Philippine Embassy in Baghdad intensified its drive against human trafficking and illegal recruitment of Filipinos to Iraq in line with President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s policy to curb the incidence of human trafficking and illegal recruitment.
Embassy Chargé d’Affaires Jomar T. Sadie met with Police Affairs Deputy General Emad Mohammed Mahmood of the Ministry of Interior and Head of Anti-Human Trafficking Major Ali Shalalin of the Police Affairs Agency in Baghdad on 08 September 2019, where the Embassy was positively informed that the draft Memorandum of Understanding between the Philippines and Iraq was recently submitted to the Cabinet for their review.
The Embassy also met with Bangladeshi Ambassador to Iraq Abu Maksud M. Forhad and Indonesian Ambassador to Iraq Bambang Antarikaso on 12 and 14 September 2019, respectively, to discuss the drafting of a joint paper on human trafficking concerns of sending states to Iraq. The initial group, comprised of the Embassy of India and the Embassy of Pakistan, is scheduled to meet with other missions next week to consolidate concerns and proposals.
As a result of the concerted efforts of labor-sending states to Iraq, including the Philippines, authorities have reportedly tightened security on checkpoints especially on routes used by unscrupulous agencies.
Filipinos are reportedly being brought to Iraq using visit visas. Later on, victims are “sold” as household workers to families in Iraq.
On 15 September 2019, the Asuwera Checkpoint Police intercepted a group of four men transporting a Filipino to Basra while bearing only an expired visit visa. The Al Masraah Police Station coordinated the matter to the Philippine Embassy, which immediately dispatched a team to assist a Filipino in the name of “Glo.”
Upon the representation of the Embassy with the Iraqi authorities, “Glo” was immediately repatriated to the Philippines on 17 September 2019. The court filed appropriate charges against the four men. END
CDA Sadie (leftmost) visits Indonesian Ambassador to Iraq Bambang Antarikaso (center) on 12 September 2019. The Philippines and Indonesia remain the only two ASEAN members in Iraq following years of war in the country. Both labor-sending states, the Embassies fight their own war against human traffickers that prey on the weak and vulnerable.
The Embassy, led by CDA Sadie (center) meets with Bangladeshi Ambassador to Iraq Abu Maksud M Forhad (right) on 14 September 2019 to talk about issues affecting migrant workers in Iraq, namely contract fraud and hefty visa penalties for erring workers.
Assistance-To-Nationals Officer Richard Billedo (second from left) and Administrative Officer Jerome Friaz (rightmost) answered the online call for help of overseas Filipino worker “Glo”. She was being smuggled by four men across on an eight-hour drive from Baghdad to Basra before being intercepted by local authorities. She is now safely home in the Philippines while her traffickers face charges on 14 September 2019.
For more information, visit https://www.baghdadpe.dfa.gov.ph, https://philembassybaghdad.wordpress.com/ or https://www.facebook.com/PHinIraq/.