The
Philippine government is making sure that the repatriation plan will be smooth
sailing despite the meager resources the country has.
President
Rodrigo Roa Duterte proposed the sending of two battalions of Philippine
troops, but will solely to facilitate the evacuation of overseas Filipino
workers (OFWs) in Iraq, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said.
"Ang idea ni
Presidente is magpadala tayo dun just in case na
kailangan ng mga tao natin ng proteksyon (The idea of the President is
to sent troops there just in case our people will need protection). The two
battalions will not be there to engage in combat to anybody but to facilitate
or help assist in the repatriation of the OFWs, especially in Iraq,"
Lorenzana said.
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The troops will come from the Philippine Marine Corps and the
Philippine Army's Special Operation Command.
A battalion is composed of about 350 to 500
officers and enlisted personnel.
Lorenzana, however, said these troops can also
protect the Filipino evacuees and those helping them in the repatriation.
There is no Rules of Engagement as of the moment
for the Philippine troops we will be deploying in the Middle East.
"Wala pa ngayon dahil we
are still in the planning stage. We are still preparing the troops tapos si
(Foreign Affairs) Secretary (Teodoro) Locsin naman ay nakikipag-negotiate, nakikipag-ugnayan
sa mga ibang bansa dun kung ano ba yung kailangang mga papeles para pumasok
yung mga tao natin and other logistics kasi magpapadala
tayo ng barko at mga eroplano -- saan sila magla-landing, saan
sila magdo-dock, so yung mga refurbishment,
refueling, supplies, lahat yun aayusin natin (There is
none for now because we are still in the planning stage. We are still preparing
the troops while Secretary Locsin is currently negotiating and coordinating
with other countries on what documents are needed before the entry of our
people and other logistics because we are going to send ships and airplanes --
where they will land or dock. We will arrange all the refurbishment, refueling,
supplies)," Lorenzana added.
Filipinos from Iran and Iraq, even those in Libya,
who are willing to come home due to the tensions will be brought home, especially
if they are in danger.
The government’s greatest challenge will be those OFW’s to
go home as they don't want to leave their jobs.
"But hopefully, we will be able to convince
them -- if their lives are in danger -- to come home," he added.
PH Coast Guard’s
BRP Gabriela Silang
The brand-new Philippine Coast Guard offshore patrol
vessel, the BRP Gabriela Silang, which is now in Malta after leaving
Saint-Nazaire, France last December, is headed for Jeddah, Saudi Arabia and is
expected to be there by Thursday.
"We will hold them there for a while so that
if we will use it as a shuttle (of OFWs) from Iran or Iraq to Qatar and then
from there we can maybe charter a plane or charter ships to bring them
home," he said.
Lorenzana explains that other floating assets from
the Philippine Navy such as the two landing docks, the BRP Tarlac (LD-601) and
BRP Davao Del Sur (LD-602), which were acquired from Indonesian shipbuilder PT
PAL PERSERO in 2016 and 2017, are capable of carrying 500 troops or passengers.
The Defense Secretary also said there are plans to
use commercial planes and c of cruise ships in the evacuation of OFW’s.
"Kung marami talaga ang sabi ni Presidente
at saka ni (Department of Finance) Secretary (Carlos) Dominguez (If
there are really many OFWs who want to go home, the President and Finance
Secretary Carlos Dominguez said, we might lease or hire (a) cruise ship, alam
mo yung (You know a) cruise ship, mga 3,500 ang capacity nyan (It has a
capacity of 3,500 passengers). Ngayon kung kunti-kunti lang, siguro (Now, if
there are only few OFWs, maybe) we can charter a plane," the DND
chief said.
"Kung marami talaga ang sabi ni Presidente
at saka ni (Department of Finance) Secretary (Carlos) Dominguez (If
there are really many OFWs who want to go home, the President and Finance
Secretary Carlos Dominguez said, we might lease or hire (a) cruise ship, alam
mo yung (You know a) cruise ship, mga 3,500 ang capacity nyan (It has a
capacity of 3,500 passengers). Ngayon kung kunti-kunti lang, siguro (Now, if
there are only few OFWs, maybe) we can charter a plane," the DND
chief said.
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