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Iraq–Philippines relations

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Iraq–Philippine relations
Map indicating locations of Iraq and Philippines

Iraq
Philippines

Iraq–Philippines relations refers to the bilateral ties between Iraq and the Philippines. Formal relations were established on January 12, 1975. [citation needed]

Diplomatic mission

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The Philippines and Iraq formally established diplomatic relations on January 12, 1975, with the opening of the Iraqi Embassy in Manila. This was followed by the opening of the Philippine Embassy in Baghdad on September 9, 1980. Due to security concerns, the Philippines moved its embassy to Amman in Jordan in 2004 while Iraq closed its embassy in Manila in September 2003. The Philippine Embassy returned to its chancery in Baghdad in November 2011.[1]

Iraq War

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The Philippines contributed troops to the United States-led Multi-National Force in Iraq in 2003. After an Overseas Filipino Worker by the name of Angelo dela Cruz was kidnapped and threatened with death by militants, the Philippine Government decided to move the scheduled end of the tour of duty of its contingent a few weeks early. Iraq and the United States expressed their disapproval for the withdrawal and described it as "giving in to terrorist demands", despite respecting the Philippines decision on the matter.[2]

Labor relations

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Due to security concerns, the Philippines banned the deployment of workers to Iraq in December 2007. The Philippines partially lifted its ban in 2012 by sending workers to Iraqi Kurdistan.[3] In 2013, the Philippines lifted the ban on the deployment of workers to Iraq except to the Iraqi provinces of Anbar, Nineveh and Kirkuk. In 2014, the Philippines imposed a total deployment ban to Iraq[4] following the capture by the Daesh of Mosul and other key cities in Iraq. The ban was partially lifted in 2018 to allow the return of workers from vacation under the Balik Manggawa Program.[5] In 2020, the total ban on all Filipino workers, notably household service workers,[6][7][8] was reinstated,[9] during the US-Iran conflict following the assassination of Qasem Sulaimani[10] and Iran's retaliation with missiles towards US facilities in Iraq[11] in 2020. A mandatory repatriation of Filipinos was undertaken by Philippine Embassy in Iraq's Chargè d’Affairès Jomar T. Sadie.[12][13][14][15][16]

A total of 1,640 Filipinos live and work in Iraq.[17] Documented workers number at 1,190 while undocumented workers are estimated at 450,[18] many of whom are victims of human trafficking.[19] In 2019 Chargè d’Affairès Sadie pushed for the adoption of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Combating Human Trafficking that will cover protection of victims, and prosecution of perpetrators.[20]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "The history of the relations between Iraq and the Philippines started in 1975 when the Iraqi embassy in Manila opened on 12/1/1975 , and the Philippine Mission began its work in Baghdad on 19/9/1980". Embassy of The Republic of Iraq in Manila. 2013. Archived from the original on 2014-06-27. Retrieved 2013-11-12.
  2. ^ "Philippines complete Iraq pullout". BBC News. 2004-07-19. Retrieved 2013-11-12.
  3. ^ "Philippine workers free to go to Iraqi Kurdistan". Inquirer.net. Agence France-Presse. 2012-05-13. Retrieved 2013-11-12.
  4. ^ Kravchuk, Max. "90 Percent Of OFWs In Iraq Undocumented". OneNews.ph. Retrieved 2020-04-09.
  5. ^ "Rules on 'Balik Manggagawa' program for Iraq seen by November". www.pna.gov.ph. Retrieved 2020-04-09.
  6. ^ "POEA ends six-year deployment ban to Iraq". GMA News Online. 2013-07-30. Retrieved 2013-11-12.
  7. ^ Barcelo, Vito (2013-07-31). "Deployment ban on Iraq now lifted". Manila Standard Today. Archived from the original on 2013-11-12. Retrieved 2013-11-12.
  8. ^ Tubeza, Philip C. (April 21, 2013). "Some areas of Iraq are 'no-go zones'". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved 2019-03-16.
  9. ^ "Philippines totally bans deployment of OFWs to Iraq". cnn. Archived from the original on 2020-04-04. Retrieved 2020-04-09.
  10. ^ "Top Iranian general killed by US in Iraq". BBC News. 2020-01-03. Retrieved 2020-04-09.
  11. ^ "Iran targets US troops with missile strikes". BBC News. 2020-01-08. Retrieved 2020-04-09.
  12. ^ "Mandatory repatriation of Filipinos in Iraq, Iran and Lebanon as highest alert raised". cnn. Archived from the original on 2020-01-10. Retrieved 2020-04-09.
  13. ^ "PH top diplomat in Baghdad asks companies in Iraq to list their Filipino employees, provide plans for evacuation". Manila Bulletin News. Retrieved 2020-04-09.
  14. ^ "Filipino workers in Baghdad told to go on leave". www.bworldonline.com. 5 January 2020. Retrieved 2020-04-09.
  15. ^ "Filipinos in Iraq to be repatriated; highest crisis alert raised". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved 2020-04-09.
  16. ^ "Philippines orders mandatory repatriation of Filipinos in Iraq | The Star Online". www.thestar.com.my. Retrieved 2020-04-09.
  17. ^ Tomacruz, Sofia (8 January 2020). "Philippines orders evacuation of Filipinos in Iraq". Rappler. Retrieved 2020-04-09.
  18. ^ "Philippines orders mandatory evacuation of Filipinos in Iraq - Xinhua | English.news.cn". www.xinhuanet.com. Archived from the original on January 8, 2020. Retrieved 2020-04-09.
  19. ^ "Tears of Fear Then Joy in Iraq". Positively Filipino | Online Magazine for Filipinos in the Diaspora. Retrieved 2020-04-09.
  20. ^ "PH, Iraq discuss draft MOU on human trafficking, illegal recruitment". Manila Bulletin News. Retrieved 2020-04-09.
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