Iraq peacekeepers ready to go

They are all packed and ready to go.

The 175-member Philippine humanitarian mission for post-war Iraq is ready to go at a moment’s notice, Presidential Spokesman Ignacio Bunye said yesterday.

Bunye also said the May 15 date for the deployment of the Philippine humanitarian mission to Iraq is a "flexible" schedule.

"May 15 is a flexible day. On or about that time, they will proceed," he said.

"We have more medical components in this reduced humanitarian mission and I heard they’re in full gear and ready to proceed anytime they are advised to go," he added.

President Arroyo said earlier that the United States has a standing informal request asking the Philippines to send a humanitarian mission and participate in the postwar reconstruction of Iraq.

Although the original 500-man Filipino peacekeeping and humanitarian contingent to Iraq has been trimmed to 175, Mrs. Arroyo said the US government understands the situation and capability of the Philippine government to fulfill its commitments.

The President said American Ambassador to Manila Francis Ricciardone met with Foreign Affairs Secretary Blas Ople "to invite" the Philippines to join the coalition of the willing days before the US-led war erupted in Iraq.

The President said it is up to the humanitarian task force co-chaired by Ople and Defense Secretary Angelo Reyes to work out the details of the Philippine mission to Iraq. – Marichu Villanueva