51 Filipino workers in Iraq
Rory Mayberry, an emergency medical technician, testified before the US congress that he witnessed the “kidnapping” of 51 Filipino workers duped into building the US embassy inside the Green Zone in Baghdad, Iraq.
According to Mayberry, the Filipinos were totally clueless when they boarded the plane that it would bring them to conflict-ridden Baghdad. All along our kababayans thought they were boarding a plane for Dubai where jobs in a hotel await them. Their passports were confiscated from them and while mid-air, they were told the true destination. There was an uproar which prompted a security guy to wave a submachine gun in the air. Confronted with the inevitable, the Filipinos landed in Baghdad and joined Mayberry in the construction site which the latter described as “deplorable.”
The contracting party – the company that deployed our citizens using both deceit and coercion, is called First Kuwaiti International. This company won the contract to build the US Embassy which is now under investigation by Congress due to fraud, wastage and abuse.
Senator Mar Roxas has filed a resolution calling for a Senate inquiry into this matter while urging the Department of Foreign Affairs and Department of Labor and Employment to immediately verify Mayberry’s testimony. I hope that workers who came from the Green Zone and who are now back in the country can shed some light about this incident. I also pray that the 51 Filipinos are being treated well in Baghdad. But Mayberry’s testimony noted that foreign workers did not have gloves, helmets, safety harnesses, and proper medical attention. One of the workers, he observed, was intoxicated on painkillers and yet was up several floors still trying to do his job. Mayberry had to shout from below for the worker to be brought down before he hurt himself.
The DFA must not lose time in addressing this issue. The United States government must walk the talk and correct this situation in the name of human rights and dignity of labor. Shame on First Kuwaiti International for doing this to our workers and for the State Department for tolerating such practices!
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Susan “Toots” Ople
My friends call me Toots. Am the youngest of seven siblings. Our family hails from the coastal town of Hagonoy, Bulacan and we are proud of our roots. My daughter's name is Estelle and she's a brilliant debater/person. I love dogs! And I enjoy writing in the dead of the night.
hi tita toots! we’re all doing ok. hope you, estelle, and the rest of the family are well.
to add to your post, mayberry’s opening statement to us congress is on youtube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=evRPwwyno_c). also, it’s important to point out that this story has been out in the public since 10/06 (http://www.corpwatch.org/article.php?id=14173).
ps. regarding pictures, if you and/or estelle join facebook (my social networking site of choice) and add me, you can see a lot of my own pictures
I would Hope and Pray that some of the people that was in the Green Zone no matter who they worked for or what company that if they were treated bad, taken to Iraq with the feeling they were going someplace other then Iraq would write me as to what happened to them. This way, I can forward it to the US Government as well, and some of the reporters that are keeping track of the story as well.Its not a matter of who they are its a matter of being treated wrong, and I for one am hurt by the treatment I have had to see our government allow, I have set the pace for the information and have arrpeared on behalf of all treated wrong. the more information I get as to the treatment the more it will help as well to prove there are people other then the ones stated. Im one person with a heart that beats as the next person no matter who or where they come from everyone has the same heart, I understand people have to support there family as well but to try to support them and be taken advantage of is wrong. I was there ans saw the faced of the men that were told they were going into a war zone and the fear I saw I never want to see again. Please forward anyone that wants to talk or write about what happened to them to drkmay1@yahoo.com. everythign will be forwarded to the proper Government officials and reporters so that this is not hidden under the carpet adn forgot about. thank you and ba safe. also note your names will be held in strict holding if you wish.
People won’t be duped if only there are opportunities here. This should be raised in the UN. The DFA and POEA should be held accountable for this fiasco. This is human trafficking in its worst form. I thought slavery is extinct.
This is not to make things worse as it is but here is another horrific abuse of an OFW still in the hands of barbaric middle ages perverts. “Melissa” a domestic helper in the middle east is raped and repeatedly sexually assaulted by her employers son and buddies to this day.