Foreign Affairs Secretary Blas F. Ople said that overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in the Middle East continue to perform their work despite the risk coming from the outbreak of war in Iraq.

Ople said that in a report to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), Philippine Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Bahnarim Guinomla said that a group of six Filipino truck drivers assigned to bring fresh water from Makkah in Saudi Arabia to Kuwait for use by coalition forces stationed near the Saudi-Kuwait border continue to bravely perform their job.

The six Filipinos, who work for Al-Humayen Transport Company, said they are very much aware of the risks attached to their work. "They are committed, however, to fulfilling their job," Guinomla said.

The OFWs told embassy officials that although they are concerned about reports of missile strikes into Kuwait, they feel it is their obligation to continue with their work.

According to Ople, the US-led coalition forces depend on the Filipino truckers for their water, a valuable commodity in the arid desert.

The Filipino truckers also deliver water and other essential commodities to outlets in Saudi Arabia, thus ensuring a steady supply of bottled water to all nationals, including foreign workers, Ople said.

"Our overseas Filipino workers in war-affected countries in the Middle East have become a source of inspiration to others because of their valor and dedication to their jobs," Ople said.

Ople has instructed all Philippine embassies in the Middle East to maintain close contact with members of the Filipino community and their employers.

He also instructed Ambassador Guinomla to request the transport companies to look after the safety of the six Filipino delivery truck drivers.

Guinomla recommended that OFWs with complete travel documents and those currently on leave in Manila be allowed to return to Saudi Arabia to enable them to fulfill their pending work contracts.

Iraqi Diplomats

This serves as fair warning that we shall not compromise our national security for any reason. The President calls upon all foreign nationals in the Philippines, whether diplomats or not, to desist from any activities inimical to our national interest. A tight watch is being conducted by the authorities, and the government will not hesitate to arrest and summarily deport aliens, if called for.

This is not an action directed against the people of Iraq. These are actions taken against individuals who have pose a threat to our national security, nothing more.

Peace Talks with MILF

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s commitment to peace remains unchanged but she will not allow innocent people to fall prey to terrorists. We call for principled negotiations for peace under the Constitution and our nation’s sovereignty, a peace that guarantees the rights of civilians to be secure in their communities.

Exploratory talks shall soon open in Kuala Lumpur. Our team has been formed and is ready to leave. Government shall explore mechanisms to stop the fighting, allow evacuees to go home and jumpstart development.

We have conducted consultations with the leaders of Mindanao. They support the policy of active defense as well as principled peace initiatives.

SARS

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today named at least three persons who would join the Philippine peace and advisory panels in expected renewed talks with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

The President said that as requested by stakeholders, "we’re adding a member from the Department of National Defense, that’s Undersecretary (Antonio) Santos Jr."

She said that she had not yet notified Senator Ramon Magsaysay Jr. but has included the latter as a member of the advisory panel. Another member is Basilan Rep. Gerry Salapuddin.

She added that she has not yet given any thought of naming a member of the Cabinet to the peace panel.

But she had asked local government officials in Mindanao to choose one from among them to sit with the peace panel.

The President stressed that the government has continued with its confidence-building measures preparatory to the renewed negotiations with the MILF.

"The main concrete way to build confidence is to find ways to bring back the Pikit (Cotabato) evacuees to their barangays. That would be, to me, the most important step in confidence building," she said.

She disclosed that at the most recent Cabinet Oversight Committee on Internal Security meeting, "we talked about how to move the peace talks forward."

Fearing a repetition of the Davao bombing incident, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today ordered general manager Edgar Manda to beef up security at the areas around the Ninoy Aquino International Airport and the Domestic Terminal to ensure the safety of passengers.

In a surprise inspection, the President noticed that security measures outside the NAIA are not as tight as inside, noting how vehicles going inside the parking lots and even at the driveways are not inspected.

Irked, she immediately ordered Manda to employ more security and inspection personnel outside the terminals and deploy more sniff dogs around the areas where there are many people waiting for the arrival of their loved ones.

"Well, inside the airport, it’s really world class. In fact, it has been judged one of the safest airports in the world. So I wanted to make the outside, the area outside, just as safe as the area inside the airport," the President said.

The Chief Executive admitted that she has learned her lesson from the bombing at the Davao airport which killed many civilians only a few weeks ago.

"It was not inside the airport that experienced terrorist attack," she said. "It was outside because inside, it was very well secured."

During her inspection tour, the President allowed herself to be frisked by the lady guard, saying she wants everybody to be security conscious.

After going down the parking lot to inspect the flow of vehicles, the President walked towards the arrival and departure areas and greeted the passengers.

Aside from Manda, she was accompanied in her inspection tour by National Capital Region Police Office Director Chief Superintendent Reynaldo Velasco and Aviation Security Command Chief Jess Versoza.