Remains of 2 of 10 Pinoys in Afghanistan crash to arrive Tuesday
08/10/2009 | 02:15 PM
Afghanistan
A total ban on the deployment of Filipino workers in Afghanistan took effect in 2007.
Iraq
OFWs were prohibited from going to Iraq in 2004 after a series of suicide bomb attacks and the abduction of Filipino truck driver Angelo Dela Cruz.
Jordan
Reports of widespread abuses against Filipino workers prompted the government to stop sending OFWs there in January 2008.
Lebanon
Following the war between Israeli and Hezbollah forces in 2006, Filipino workers were barred from entering Lebanon in June 2007.
Nigeria
Deployment ban in this African country was implemented in December 2007 due to kidnappings and civil unrest in the Niger Delta.
* Due to desperation for work or good pay being offered, thousands of workers sneak into these countries using fake documents.- GMANews.TV
The victims were killed on July 19 after the Russian-owned civilian Mi-8 helicopter transporting them crashed on the tarmac in Kandahar Air Base shortly after takeoff at NATO's largest air base in Afghanistan. [See: 10 Pinoys killed in Afghan chopper crash]
The Department of Foreign Affairs earlier identified the 10, who were employees of US-based construction firm The AIM Group, Inc. as:
1. Celso Q. Caralde (born in Gingoog City, Misamis Oriental)
2. Ely I. Cariño (Cabusao, Camarines Sur)
3. Ernesto C. De Vega (Naic, Cavite)
4. Manolito C. Hornilla (Taysan, Batangas)
5. Leopoldo G. Jimenez Jr. (Lubao, Pampanga)
6. Mark Joseph C. Mariano (Floridablanca, Pampanga)
7. Marvin P. Najera (San Fernando, Pampanga)
8. Rene D. Taboclaon (Cagayan de Oro City)
9. Recardo E. Vallejos (Bislig, Surigao del Sur)
10. Noli M. Visda (Lubao, Pampanga)
De Castro said the bodies of Jimenez and Hornilla are due to arrive 3 p.m.Tuesday, August 11, on Kuwait Air flight QR 646.
The remains of the other eight, however, were charred, and that DNA testing would be needed for identification. [See: 8 Pinoys in Afghan crash to undergo DNA testing]
Benefit claims
In a separate statement, the vice president warned the families of the 10 victims not to avail of services of unauthorized persons in facilitating their claims from AIM.
De Castro issued the statement after one of the claimant families reported to his office that they have been receiving calls from different people who offer their services they could fast track the processing of their claims.
“The legal heirs of these 10 victims must wait for the official communication from the employer, the AIM group. The families should only talk to the representatives of AIM and no other, regarding the possible death benefits they could claim," he said.
The vice president said that the legal heirs of the victims are the sole beneficiaries of the benefits and claims granted by AIM.
“They are entitled to it in full, so they should be cautious of people who are asking for commissions or fees. The heirs must directly deal with the authorized representatives of AIM."
Afghanistan is one of five countries where overseas Filipino workers are forbidden to work. The others are Iraq, Lebanon, Jordan and Nigeria - although there are moves to ease the restrictions on the last three.
Despite the ban, many Filipino workers still managed to get employed in military bases in Iraq and Afghanistan, where US troops and allies are fighting local militants. - Kimberly Jane T. Tan, GMANews.TV
