NEWS RELEASE - January 18, 2005
References: Connie Bragas-Regalado, Chairperson, 259-1145
Vince Borneo, Information Officer, 0927-7968198

Impending election violence in Iraq
Migrants, advocates continue petitioning PGMA to withdraw support to US war in Iraq to save OFW Robert Tarongoy

The MIGRANTE Sectoral Party today renewed its call to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo "to heed an ongoing international petition to save the life of overseas Filipino worker Robert Tarongoy by withdrawing support to the United States' occupation in Iraq."

"All of the 364 signatories in the international petition to President Macapagal-Arroyo have a lot to worry about with the impending election scenario in US-occupied Iraq on January 30. With the increased violence in the rundown to the elections, the safety of Tarongoy is again to be greatly compromised. Pres. Macapagal-Arroyo must update us on the real conditions of Tarongoy and situation of other OFWs in the war-torn nation. Her silence betrays an utter contempt for OFWs. The people have the right to know what is happening to Tarongoy and all Filipinos in Iraq," MIGRANTE Sectoral Party chairperson Connie Bragas-Regalado said.

In the MIGRANTE Sectoral Party petition circulated on the internet, organizations and individuals of various nationalities from the Philippines, the far corners of the Asia-Pacific, North America, the Middle East and Europe are calling on President Arroyo "to immediately withdraw support and active participation to the ongoing wars of aggression the US is waging on Iraq and other peoples."

"We all wonder if Malacanang is serious in efforts to get Tarongoy and all Filipino workers safely home with the upscale trend of violence in Iraq, especially with the coming elections on January 30. The bulk of the 6,000 Filipino civilians working in Iraq are employed by contractors for US companies in US military bases that are legitimate targets of Iraqi rebels. Tarongoy and all OFWs in the war-torn nation will be all the more endangered in the upcoming elections," Bragas-Regalado said.

The MIGRANTE sectoral party leader reiterated that "only the Macapagal-Arroyo government is to blame if anything worse happens to Tarongoy and all other OFWs in Iraq."

"If Pres. Arroyo neglects our petition, no one else is to blame," Bragas-Regalado ended. #