RIYADH, 1 August 2004 — Philippine Ambassador Bahnarim A. Guinomla has returned here from a flying visit to Arar where he met with Filipino truck drivers and convinced them not to cross the border to Iraq for security reasons.

Guinomla said that the number of Filipino drivers at the Saudi-Iraq border is down from over 90 to just 36 who are awaiting replacements before returning to their bases in the Eastern Province and Riyadh as did the rest of their colleagues.

While also meeting representatives of some of the transport companies employing Filipino drivers, Guinomla reiterated to them the Philippine government’s policy not to allow them to cross the border to Iraq in view of the critical security situation.

“I conveyed to them the instructions of President (Gloria Macapagal) Arroyo and they in turn assured us of cooperation,” Guinomla told Arab News.

He explained the difficult decision that President Arroyo had to make in order to save the life of one of their fellow drivers, Angelo dela Cruz.

This demonstrated, Guinomla added, the deep concern of the president over the safety and welfare of the Filipino migrant workers estimated at seven million around the world.

Guinomla said he also checked the living condition of the drivers who have been staying close to the border for the past few weeks. He said they were in high spirits even as they informed him of their various work-related concerns. “They just wanted support of the embassy in terms of recovering their entitlements,” he said. The ambassador promised all possible assistance.

The representatives of some trucking companies assured the Filipino envoy that Filipino drivers who refuse to go to Iraq would not be forced to drive. In fact, one of them said no Filipino driver joined the latest delivery convoy to Iraq.

Guinomla was accompanied on the trip by Vice Consul Romulo Victor M. Israel and Welfare Officer Eduardo Bellido who will remain in Arar under instruction from Guinomla to monitor the condition of the drivers while awaiting their replacements.

While in Arar, Guinomla also met with officials of the Central Hospital and its Filipino personnel.