Speaking during the monthly community meeting at the Philippine Consulate-General (PCG) in Dubai yesterday, Ambassador Roy Cimatu, Philippine special envoy to the Middle East, disclosed that the workers were evacuated from Baghdad, Iraq to neighbouring Kuwait before being flown to Manila.

“These workers had not seen their families for the past four years. They came to Iraq before the Philippine government imposed the travel ban in 2004,” Cimatu said.

A footage of the jubilant workers was also shown at the PCG. One Filipino, who identified himself as Lino Pineda from the province of Pampanga in central Luzon, said that he worked in Baghdad as a driver. “My family had been very worried about me. Being a driver in Iraq is a very risky job. I often encountered bombings along the road,” he said.

Cimatu emphasised that the Philippine’s travel ban to Iraq remains in effect. “We are very much concerned about the safety of Filipinos who continue to defy the government’s policy against going to Iraq,” he said.

When asked about the current situation in Iraq, Cimatu said the country, particularly the northern area of Baghdad remains critical.

“When we were there a few days ago, a bombing killed around 400 people. It’s really dangerous and we’re advising our nationals to refrain from going there, for their own safety,” he said.