Binay leaves for special mission to Middle East

Hours after attending activities marking the 25th anniversary of the 1986 EDSA People Power uprising, Vice President Jejomar Binay left Friday evening for a one-week special mission to the Middle East. Binay boarded an Emirates flight shortly before 6 p.m. for Kuwait, according to a report by radio dzBB's Mao dela Cruz. While in Kuwait, Binay is to represent President Benigno Aquino III and meet with ranking officials in Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates. He will also be representing President Aquino during the celebration of Kuwait’s national day, also on February 25, after which he will go to Saudi Arabia and the UAE. During his meetings with officials from the three countries, Binay is expected to hold bilateral discussions for a labor agreement towards improving the conditions of Filipino workers in the region. He will also be closely monitoring the security situation of OFWs in Libya, Bahrain and Yemen in the light of massive protests and violent clashes taking place in those countries. As of June 2010, there were around 31,000 Filipinos in Bahrain, 26,000 in Libya and 1,400 are in Yemen. “I have received instructions from the President to closely monitor and if needed, give guidance to the team overseeing the evacuation of Filipinos from Libya. Since I am already in the region, I will be doing what needs to be done to ensure the safety of our kababayans," Binay said in an earlier news release issued by his office. Binay also said representations will be made with other neighboring countries to allow safe passage for OFWs from Libya. “Makikiusap pa tayo sa ibang neighboring countries para maging safe haven ng mga tao doon," he added. (We will request neighboring countries if they can be safe havens for our people there.) Binay is due to return March 5.—JV, GMA News