Arroyo condemns attacks on Pinoys in N. Ireland

President Arroyo directed Foreign Affairs Secretary Delia Albert yesterday to protest before the British government the racist "attack" on two Filipino nurses living in Portadown, Northern Ireland.

"I have directed the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to immediately look into this matter and to coordinate with the … authorities for the protection of other Filipinos (living in that area)," Mrs. Arroyo said in a statement.

In her meeting with British Ambassador Paul Dimond, Albert expressed the President’s strong sentiments against the incident and the need to "ensure the safety and protect our nationals and to bring the perpetrators to justice."

"These attacks against our nationals are unacceptable. They live and work in peace and harmony and make meaningful contributions to their respective communities. They deserve the full protection of the authorities of the host government," she said.

Dimond assured Albert that the British authorities were already investigating the incident.

While there were previous incidents against Filipinos in Northern Ireland, Albert has refused to declare the Portadown attack as racially motivated.

"While I would prefer to hear the official version from the government of the United Kingdom, I would be deeply saddened if these attacks are indeed racially motivated," she said.

Mrs. Arroyo issued her directive after reports reached Manila that a mob of youths pelted last Wednesday the house that two Filipino nurses shared in the impoverished Protestant town.

The nurses work at a local hospital. Medical services in Northern Ireland have become increasingly dependent on immigrants to fill many posts, especially nurses from the Philippines.

"We condemn this attack because we abhor all forms of racism, what with more than 8 million Filipinos in foreign lands and thousands of foreigners residing in our country," Mrs. Arroyo said. "Racism is out of place in a rapidly integrating world seeking to rid itself of discrimination and inequality arising from color and creed."

Sen. Manual Villar Jr., chairman of the Senate committee on foreign relations, echoed the President’s call, as he condemned the attack and expressed concern over reports of growing racial violence in Northern Ireland.

He urged foreign affairs officials to coordinate closely with the local police to find out if race was behind the incident.

"Acts of racial violence must not be tolerated. We must press for immediate action by the Irish police and let those who committed the crime face the maximum prison sentences under their laws," he said.

Villar also suggested suspending the deployment of Filipino contract workers in areas where "strong anti-immigrant sentiments exist."

A British territory, Northern Ireland has in the past year seen an increase in anti-immigrant violence. Until recently, it has also been the scene of sometimes violent sectarian conflict between Protestants and Catholics.