DAMMAM, 20 August — Overseas Filipino workers in the Kingdom may only register their names with the Department of Foreign Affairs in Manila as possible claimants for compensation during the Gulf War.
Vice Consul Raymond Balatbat told Arab News that the DFA is not accepting new applications on Gulf War Claims but only gathering information on those who were not able to file their claims during the filing period of 1992 to 1996.
The Philippine Embassy in Riyadh issued this clarification amidst clamor among OFWs in the Kingdom, particularly those working in the Eastern Region, for an official statement from the embassy.
Filipino workers in Dammam, Alkhobar, Jubail and Khafji were confused on the news in the Filipino community that DFA Manila has been accepting new applications for the said claims.
Balatbat clarified that there was a move by Manila asking the United Nations Compensation Commission (UNCC) to reconsider accepting claims from claimants who failed to file their application in 1996. However, Balatbat said it will be up to the UNCC Governing Council if they are going to accept late filers.
DFA said an answer could be expected from UNCC by September, he said.
The Vice Consul said that pending the decision of the UNCC, the DFA in Manila can only register the OFWs as possible claimants.
The workers may send their names and addresses during the Gulf War, present address, telephone and fax numbers, email address, passport number used during the war, travel document number, an identification card, and contact person or representative and his Philippine address.
This may be filed at the office of Eduardo Pablo Maglaya, Officer-in-Charge of the Migrant Workers Affairs at the DFA, according to Balatbat. This information will be used by DFA to easily contact the possible claimant should the UNCC approve the governmentís request the late claim applications.
However, emails sent through the [email protected] pointed that only those who were working in Kuwait and Iraq during the Gulf War are qualified to file for claims. Freda Contreras, editor of the Suite101.com who is based in Kuwait, responded to an inquiry of a Filipina nurse in Khamis Mushayt if she is entitled by telling her that ìaccording to the UNCC, only those who were official residents of Kuwait and Iraq at the time of the war are qualified to file for claims.î
Bayani Mangibin, secretary-general of the Philippine Compensation Commission based in DFA Manila, also responded to the numerous emails addressed to him. Mangibin said that they have only asked the UNCC to reconsider the applications of bonafide Filipino claimants who failed to file during the deadline set by the UNCC in 1996.
However, Mangibin also said in his e-mail that the ones accepted during the 1992 to 1996 were only those of OFWs who worked in Iraq and Kuwait.
However, an information campaign is has also been launched in Saudi Arabia to locate and identify those who worked before in Kuwait and Iraq during the Gulf War but are now working in the Kingdom so that they will be able to file their corresponding applications once the UNCC issues a ruling on the late filers.
A certain Ronald wrote on the OFW-Saudi website warning Filipinos on a possible racket from fixers who have connections inside DFA Manila. Ronald said that one of his friends who is now on vacation told him that he knows somebody in DFA who could fix his papers to show that he is bona-fide claimant including those who worked in Saudi Arabia.
Another writer said that there are groups of fixers in Manila who are willing to assist OFWs to file their claims provided that these fixers are given a share of the compensation once it is successfully given to the OFW.
