OFWs in Afghanistan crash defied ban - OWWA

MANILA, Philippines - The 10 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) killed in a helicopter crash in Afghanistan had defied the government ban on deployment to war-torn countries, the Overseas Workers’ Welfare Administration (OWWA) said yesterday.

OWWA chief Carmelita Dimzon said the 10 OFWs were deployed to work in the Middle East in 2004 but apparently slipped into Afghanistan as illegal workers.

“Based on our records, they had already returned (to the Philippines) after working in Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Iraq, but left again as tourists first week of July,” Dimzon said.

The 10 workers had entered Dubai as tourists, she added.

Dimzon said the OWWA is still trying to determine how the workers ended up in Afghanistan from Dubai.

The Philippines has banned its workers from Afghanistan, but many still find employment at military bases there.

In March, a Filipino carpenter at Kandahar Air Base was reportedly killed in a rocket attack.

The 10 Filipinos killed Sunday had been working at the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) base for several years. They did not return to the Philippines because the government had imposed a ban on travel to Afghanistan, according to Dimzon.

Labor Secretary Marianito Roque said their initial investigation showed the 10 Filipino workers were hired by a US firm to work at the NATO base in Afghanistan.

Reports said 16 out of 21 people aboard the Russian-owned civilian Mi-8 helicopter were killed when it slammed into the tarmac at Kandahar Air Base shortly after takeoff.

Roque said he has instructed the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) in Washington to make the necessary arrangements for the immediate return of the remains.

According to Roque, all the Filipino fatalities have been identified.

Among those killed was Marvin Najera of San Fernando, Pampanga, whose father Eduardo is also working in Afghanistan.

The other fatalities included Ely Cariño of Cabusao, Camarines Sur; Manolito Hornilla of Taysan, Batangas; Mark Joseph Mariano of Floridablanca, Pampanga; Celso Caralde of Butuan City; Rene D. Taboclaon (Cagayan de Oro City), Recardo E. Vallejos (Bislig, Surigao del Sur) and Noli M. Visda, of Lubao, Pampanga.

Although it was apparent that the 10 Filipinos were illegally deployed, Roque said the Philippine government would still provide the necessary assistance.

President Arroyo ordered the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to extend all possible assistance to the families of the victims.

Press Secretary Cerge Remonde said that the directive was given to DFA undersecretary for migrant workers affairs Esteban Conejos who attended yesterday’s Cabinet meeting in Surigao.

Conejos said Philippine diplomatic officials from neighboring Pakistan have arrived in the Afghan capital, Kabul, to help identify the bodies and repatriate them.

He said the victims’ next of kin were informed yesterday.

“Our priority now is to work closely with the employer and the relevant authorities to identify the remains and cause their repatriation and ensure that all benefits due the workers are paid to their families,” Conejos said.

He said the DFA will help the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) to find out how the 10 Filipinos ended up working in Afghanistan, notwithstanding the deployment ban.