10 OFWs in Kandahar Helicopter Crash Identified
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The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has confirmed the identities of the ten Filipino workers killed in the
helicopter crash in Kandahar on July 19.
The employer of the Filipino workers, US-based construction firm The AIM Group, Inc., furnished the names to
the DFA after their families have been informed of the incident.
The Filipinos on board the aircraft which malfunctioned during takeoff and plunged to the ground were:
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)
The helicopter was reported to be carrying three crew members and 17 passengers of varying nationalities.
Sixteen of the passengers, including the Filipinos, were killed in the crash.
The company said the next of kin for each Filipino employee have been notified of the death of their family
member. After positive identification is made of the bodies in Kandahar, these will be sent to Kuwait and then
repatriated to the Philippines.
The DFA has dispatched a team from the Philippine Embassy in Islamabad to coordinate with local
authorities for the repatriation.
“We have several representatives in the Philippines who will ensure that the bodies are repatriated to the
families,” an official from AIM said.
“Each Filipino employee and his dependent family members will be eligible for payments under Defense
Base Act Insurance and other policies that are in place,” the company said. It added that it will process the
insurance claims as soon as possible and submit these to the insurance company.
Meanwhile, the company official clarified that all 10 Filipino workers were already in Afghanistan when they
started working for AIM.
DFA Undersecretary for Migrant Workers’ Affairs Esteban B. Conejos, Jr. said the focus of the Philippine
Government is to attend to immediate concerns which include the repatriation of the bodies and assistance
that will be extended to the families.
“Our priority now is to work closely with the employer and the relevant authorities to identify the remains and
cause their repatriation and ensure that all benefits due the workers are paid to their families. Thereafter, DFA
will work with DOLE and POEA to find out how these workers ended up working in Afghanistan
notwithstanding the deployment ban,” Undersecretary Conejos said. END
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Three Filipino Seafarers Released by Nigerian Militants (updated)
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The three Filipino crew of MV Sil Tide, an oil-supply vessel of Vanuatu flag, were released by Nigerian militants
on July 20.
The three Filipinos seafarers are: Jose Redel; Felipe Bacaling, Jr.; and Monico Bardelas.
The local manning agency of the vessel informed the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) that the Filipinos are
in good condition and underwent medical examination.
The Filipino seafarers have also spoken with their families immediately after their release.
The DFA’s Office of the Undersecretary for Migrant Workers’ Affairs is coordinating with the local manning
agency for the Filipino crew’s repatriation.
The vessel’s crew, along with one Ukranian, was abducted by Nigerian armed militants on 14 March 2009 and
held hostage in Cameroon.
At present, four Filipino seafarers are still held hostage by other Nigerian militants. END
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10 OFWs Died in Kandahar Helicopter Crash
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Ten Filipino workers in Afghanistan were killed in the crash of a civilian helicopter in Kandahar on July 19.
Their employer, a US-based construction firm, confirmed to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) that the
Filipino workers were onboard the aircraft which malfunctioned during takeoff and plunged to the ground.
The helicopter was reported to be carrying three crew members and 17 passengers of varying nationalities.
Sixteen of the passengers, including the Filipinos, were killed in the crash.
A company official said the families and relatives of the Filipino victims are currently being contacted while the
repatriation of the remains is being arranged.
The company is also working on the processing of the Filipino workers’ insurance and other benefits.
The DFA has dispatched a team from the Philippine Embassy in Islamabad to coordinate with local
authorities for the repatriation.
The Philippine Government has a long-standing ban on the deployment of overseas Filipino workers to
Afghanistan due to security concerns.
The DFA extends its deepest condolences to the families and relatives of the 10 Filipino workers who died in
the crash. END
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RP Embassy in Madrid Welcomes First Group of Filipino Nurses in the Basque Country
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The Philippine Embassy in Madrid welcomed the first group of Filipino nurses deployed in northern Spain.
The Embassy held a briefing for them on 19 July and also extended consular services to the Filipino residents
in Getxo-Bilbao area in the Basque Country.
An embassy delegation headed by Chargé d’Affaires Celia Anna Feria briefed the 27 nurses on the salient
aspects of Basque culture and society, as well as Spanish labor laws and conditions. With her were Consul
Marciano de Borja, Labor Attache Ramon Tionloc, and Welfare Officer Ma. Consolacion Marquez
The 27 Filipino nurses arrived in Bilbao last week. Fifteen came from the province of Nueva Vizcaya, while
twelve are from other provinces.
The deployment of Filipino health workers in Spain is part of the RP-Spain Memorandum of Understanding on
Migration Flows signed in June 2006. Under the agreement, Spain will open its doors to the employment of
Filipino health workers.
The Filipino nurses will initially work as nursing assistants and caregivers in four Basque homes for the
elderly (residencias de mayores) operated by Urgatzi, Igurco, Residencial Aulaga and Olimpia Bass. They
have a one-year renewable contract.
The Spanish Ministry of Education will evaluate, for accreditation purposes, the nursing degrees within a
period of six to nine months. After getting the official accreditation, they will be able to practice their profession
and will earn the same salary as regular Spanish nurses.
Notwithstanding the present economic crisis in Spain, the demand for foreign nurses remains high. To date,
there are about 190 Filipino nurses working in the Madrid area.
The Philippine Embassy is talking with prospective Spanish employers on the employment of more Filipinos
in the health sector. The Embassy is also confident that the Filipino nurses now deployed in Madrid and the
Basque Country will be followed by other groups in the coming months. END
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RP Elected to UN General Assembly Committee
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July 20, 2009—The Philippines will play a key role in the forthcoming 64th Session of the United Nations
General Assembly following the election of Ambassador Hilario G. Davide Jr. as vice chair of the Disarmament
and International Security (First) Committee, the Philippine Mission to the United Nations reported today.
In its report to the Department of Foreign Affairs, the Philippine Mission said Ambassador Davide was elected
as vice chair representing the Asian Group together with Mr. Florian Laudi of Germany (Western European and
Other States Group) and Mr. Hossam Aly of Egypt (African Group). Ms. Tetyana Pokhvalona of Ukraine (Eastern
European Group) was elected as the Rapporteur of the First Committee. The four were elected by acclamation
on 14 July 2009, during the 24th Meeting of the First Committee of the 63rd Session of the General Assembly.
The Philippine Mission said that Ambassador Jose Luis Cancela, Permanent Representative of Uruguay to
the United Nations (Latin American and Caribbean Group), was elected on 10 June 2009 as Chair of the First
Committee for the 64th Session.
The First Committee discusses all matters pertaining to disarmament and international security and
deliberates on resolutions proposed by UN Member States that deal with disarmament, including small arms
and light weapons and nuclear arms. The 63rd Session adopted a total of 58 resolutions.
“The election of the Philippines to this important body will allow us to help guide toward positive outcomes the
discussions and debate on disarmament matters during the upcoming 64th Session of the General
Assembly,” Ambassador Davide said.
“This election together with the endorsement of the Philippines as President-elect of the 2010 Nuclear
Nonproliferation Treaty Review Conference shows the trust and confidence of the international community in
the Philippines’ leadership on disarmament issues,” he added.
The term of Ambassador Davide as Vice Chair will last for the entire duration of the 64th Session of the
General Assembly. The meetings and the deliberations of the Committee on the various disarmament
resolutions will begin in the third week of September 2009 and will end by the first week of November 2009.
“It is in the interest of the Philippines to see to it that the resolutions adopted by the General Assembly are
followed by UN Member States, since they promote not just the security of a country or region, but that of the
world,” Ambassador Davide said. END
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Milan PCG Celebrates 111th Independence Day
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