Iraq–Philippines relations explained

Iraq–Philippines relations refers to the bilateral ties between Iraq and the Philippines. Formal relations were established on January 12, 1975.

Diplomatic mission

The Philippines and Iraq formally established diplomatic relations on January 12, 1975, with the opening of the Iraqi Embassy in Manila. This was followed by the opening of the Philippine Embassy in Baghdad on September 9, 1980. Due to security concerns, the Philippines moved its embassy to Amman in Jordan in 2004 while Iraq closed its embassy in Manila in September 2003. The Philippine Embassy returned to its chancery in Baghdad in November 2011.[1]

Iraq War

The Philippines contributed troops to the United States-led Multi-National Force in Iraq in 2003. After an Overseas Filipino Worker by the name of Angelo dela Cruz was kidnapped and threatened with death by militants, the Philippine Government decided to move the scheduled end of the tour of duty of its contingent a few weeks early. Iraq and the United States expressed their disapproval for the withdrawal and described it as "giving in to terrorist demands", despite respecting the Philippines decision on the matter.[2]

Labor relations

Due to security concerns, the Philippines banned the deployment of workers to Iraq in December 2007. The Philippines partially lifted its ban in 2012 by sending workers to Iraqi Kurdistan.[3] In 2013, the Philippines lifted the ban on the deployment of workers to Iraq except to the Iraqi provinces of Anbar, Nineveh and Kirkuk. In 2014, the Philippines imposed a total deployment ban to Iraq[4] following the capture by the Daesh of Mosul and other key cities in Iraq. The ban was partially lifted in 2018 to allow the return of workers from vacation under the Balik Manggawa Program.[5] In 2020, the total ban on all Filipino workers, notably household service workers,[6] [7] [8] was reinstated,[9] during the US-Iran conflict following the assassination of Qasem Sulaimani[10] and Iran's retaliation with missiles towards US facilities in Iraq[11] in 2020. A mandatory repatriation of Filipinos was undertaken by Philippine Embassy in Iraq's Chargè d’Affairès Jomar T. Sadie.[12] [13] [14] [15] [16]

A total of 1,640 Filipinos live and work in Iraq.[17] Documented workers number at 1,190 while undocumented workers are estimated at 450,[18] many of whom are victims of human trafficking.[19] In 2019 Chargè d’Affairès Sadie pushed for the adoption of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Combating Human Trafficking that will cover protection of victims, and prosecution of perpetrators.[20]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: The history of the relations between Iraq and the Philippines started in 1975 when the Iraqi embassy in Manila opened on 12/1/1975, and the Philippine Mission began its work in Baghdad on 19/9/1980 . Embassy of The Republic of Iraq in Manila . 2013 . 2013-11-12 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140627142459/http://www.mofamission.gov.iq/phl/en/pagedisplay.aspx?sm=664 . 2014-06-27 . dead .
  2. News: Philippines complete Iraq pullout . 2004-07-19 . BBC News . 2013-11-12 . en-GB.
  3. News: Philippine workers free to go to Iraqi Kurdistan . 2012-05-13 . Inquirer.net . 2013-11-12 . Agence France-Presse . en.
  4. Web site: 90 Percent Of OFWs In Iraq Undocumented. Kravchuk. Max. OneNews.ph. en. 2020-04-09.
  5. Web site: Rules on 'Balik Manggagawa' program for Iraq seen by November. www.pna.gov.ph. 2020-04-09.
  6. News: POEA ends six-year deployment ban to Iraq . 2013-07-30 . GMA News Online . 2013-11-12 . en-US.
  7. News: Barcelo. Vito. Deployment ban on Iraq now lifted. 2013-07-31. Manila Standard Today. 2013-11-12. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20131112052633/http://manilastandardtoday.com/2013/07/31/deployment-ban-on-iraq-now-lifted/. 2013-11-12.
  8. News: Tubeza. Philip C.. Some areas of Iraq are 'no-go zones'. April 21, 2013. Philippine Daily Inquirer. 2019-03-16. en.
  9. News: Philippines totally bans deployment of OFWs to Iraq. cnn. 2020-04-09. en. 2020-04-04. https://web.archive.org/web/20200404134207/https://cnnphilippines.com/news/2020/1/15/total-deployment-ban-overseas-filipino-workers-Iraq.html. dead.
  10. News: Top Iranian general killed by US in Iraq. 2020-01-03. BBC News. 2020-04-09. en-GB.
  11. News: Iran targets US troops with missile strikes. 2020-01-08. BBC News. 2020-04-09. en-GB.
  12. Web site: Mandatory repatriation of Filipinos in Iraq, Iran and Lebanon as highest alert raised. cnn. en. 2020-04-09. 2020-01-10. https://web.archive.org/web/20200110001900/https://cnnphilippines.com/news/2020/1/8/Iraq-Filipinos-mandatory-repatriation.html. dead.
  13. Web site: PH top diplomat in Baghdad asks companies in Iraq to list their Filipino employees, provide plans for evacuation. Manila Bulletin News. en-US. 2020-04-09.
  14. Web site: Filipino workers in Baghdad told to go on leave . www.bworldonline.com. 2020-04-09. 5 January 2020 .
  15. Web site: Filipinos in Iraq to be repatriated; highest crisis alert raised. ABS-CBN News. en. 2020-04-09.
  16. Web site: Philippines orders mandatory repatriation of Filipinos in Iraq The Star Online. www.thestar.com.my. 2020-04-09.
  17. Web site: Philippines orders evacuation of Filipinos in Iraq. Tomacruz. Sofia. Rappler. 8 January 2020 . en. 2020-04-09.
  18. Web site: Philippines orders mandatory evacuation of Filipinos in Iraq - Xinhua English.news.cn. https://web.archive.org/web/20200108093808/http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2020-01/08/c_138687444.htm. dead. January 8, 2020. www.xinhuanet.com. 2020-04-09.
  19. Web site: Tears of Fear Then Joy in Iraq. Positively Filipino Online Magazine for Filipinos in the Diaspora. en-US. 2020-04-09.
  20. Web site: PH, Iraq discuss draft MOU on human trafficking, illegal recruitment. Manila Bulletin News. en-US. 2020-04-09.

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