OFWs asked to leave Iraq as alert level raised

Wednesday, 01 February 2012 14:00 Lukas Velunta

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) today raised the alert level over Iraq to level 3, calling for “voluntary repatriation” amidst recent violence in the country.

"Under Alert Level 3, Filipinos who wish to leave Iraq are offered voluntary repatriation at government expense," the DFA said in a news release.

"A ban on the further deployment of OFWs is automatically imposed in coordination with the Department of Labor and Employment. Filipinos are likewise advised not to travel to the affected areas while alert level 3 is in effect.”

The alert level covers all Iraq save for the autonomous region of Kurdistan, near the border with Turkey.

The raised alert follows DFA secretary Albert del Rosario's official trip to Iraq, where he held bilateral talks with minister of foreign affairs Hosyar Zebari. Del Rosario returned to the Philippines on 28th January.

Numerous bombings occurred in Iraq last month, after the pullout of the United States military from the country. Tensions have risen between Iraq's Shia majority and Sunni minority.