Gonzalez to BI: Screen OFWs/Tourists for the Middleast
November 04, 2004
Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez today ordered the Bureau of Immigration (BI) to impose strictly the screening of tourists and overseas Filipino workers destined to middle east countries in the wake of another OFW who was taken hostage by an unidentified group in Baghdad, Iraq.
Gonzalez, in his order to BI Commissioner Alipio Fernandez said there is a need to implement strictly the travel and deployment ban issued by the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Department of Labor and Employment on war-torn Iraq. He also said that to avoid untoward incidents like Filipinos being kidnapped in Iraq, the BI should take stringent measures that will implement said ban by making sure that travelers going through immigration officers in the country’s exit points strictly enforce the government’s order.
Gonzalez also directed Fernandez to make sure that no BI personnel shall be involved in escort service to circumvent or duck said ban to Iraq.
“Let us adhere strictly to the ban imposed by the government on Iraq,” Gonzalez said.
The Justice Secretary lamented the latest kidnapping in Iraq which included OFW Roberto Tarongoy.
“We would not have wanted a repeat of the Angelo dela Cruz incident. Therefore, the citizens should cooperate with the government by adhering to this ban,” Gonzalez declared.
Yesterday, the foreign affairs department confirmed reports that Tarongoy, was taken kidnapped by an unidentified group from Al Mansour, Baghdad along with an American, a Nepalese and three Iraqis.
|
