GMA condemns Iraq bombings

BUSAN, South Korea (via PLDT) — President Arroyo condemned yesterday the latest bombings in Iraq that killed two Filipinos as she ordered the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to assist in having the victims’ remains brought home.

"President Arroyo and the Filipino people are one in condemning the latest bomb attacks in Iraq which did not spare even sacred places of worship," Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye said.

"On this score, President Arroyo extends her condolences to the slain OFWs (overseas Filipino workers) in a roadside blast in Iraq," Bunye said.

He said the DFA is now coordinating with the bereaved families of Benjie Bongolan Carreon and Ponciano Men-men Loque to help with arrangements for repatriation of the bodies.

Carreon and Loque, according to United States’ authorities in Iraqi, died on Nov. 11 "as a result of an improvised explosive device" in eastern Iraq.

Their deaths brought the number of Filipinos killed in Iraq up to five.

The DFA earlier said the remains of Carreon and Loque were flown to Kuwait aboard a US air force C-130 cargo plane at 10:30 Friday night and will be repatriated next week.

Philippine Embassy in Kuwait Chargé d’ Affaires Ariz Severino Convalecer said the remains of Loque and Carreon were scheduled to arrive in Manila on board Qatar Airways flight QR 646.

According to Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) deputy administrator Angelo Jimenez, Carreon and Loque were hired by the Kuwait-based South Korea Trading Co., which is engaged in the sale of imported goods and items.

Based on OWWA records, Carreon was an active OWWA member, but Loque’s OWWA membership lapsed and he was unable to renew it because he was out of the country for several years.

In August, Filipino engineer Federico Samson was killed in an ambush in the town of Kirkuk.

The Philippine embassy in Iraq, which recently transferred operations to Amman, Jordan after incidents of violence and kidnappings of diplomats and foreigners escalated in the strife-torn country, said Samson was killed in an ambush believed to have been carried out by Iraqi militants.

The slain Filipino engineer was working with US-based Lucent Technologies Inc. OFWs Pedro Galila and Roderic Tayo were also wounded in the ambush, the Philippine embassy in Iraq reported.

The DFA said the violence, kidnappings and deaths of foreigners in Iraq justify the Philippine government’s decision not to lift the deployment ban imposed last year after the abduction of Filipino truck driver Angelo de la Cruz. — Paolo Romero