Binay thanks Iranian gov't for transfer of Pinoy inmates

MANILA, Philippines - Vice President Jejomar Binay thanked yesterday the Iranian government for granting the government’s request to transfer Filipino inmates from the provinces to prisons near the capital, Tehran.

The presidential adviser on overseas Filipino workers concerns said eight Filipinos are imprisoned in Iran, based on records of the Department of Foreign Affairs.

“The transfer will enable our Philippine embassy personnel to visit the inmates more frequently to check their condition and extend to them whatever assistance they may need,” he said.

Binay said the positive response of the Iranian government was conveyed to him during the 4th Philippines-Iran Joint Consular Consultation Meeting in Tehran.

“This gesture by Iran is a positive step in strengthening ties between our two countries,” he said.

Binay said during the meeting, Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Rafael Seguis had talks with Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi on a host of issues, among them the need to facilitate the conclusion of agreements to address the concerns of Iranian students and prisoners in the Philippines and Filipino inmates in Iran.

He had “substantive talks” with the foreign minister of Iran when he attended the 16th Non-Aligned Movement Summit in Tehran, he added.