11 June 2006
Manila: Authorities at the former US Naval Base in Subic have denied reports that an American company is using the facility to hire Filipino mercenaries for Iraq.
Several newspapers in Manila reported on Friday that the American company Blackwater USA was using the former US naval base to recruit Filipino mercenaries to fight in Iraq.
The news reports even featured pictures of Filipino-looking men wearing combat fatigues during what appears to be guard duty in an alleged Middle East community.
There are fears in the country that such an activity would prove dangerous to hundreds of thousands of Filipinos working in the Middle East.
Many Filipinos apply for any type of work just to work abroad and earn money.
It is estimated that about a tenth of the country's 84 million population is out of the country and working legally or illegally abroad.
"I assure the public that there are no mercenary recruitment programmes going on within the Freeport and that the SBMA does not have a locator by the said name," said Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority chairman Feliciano Salonga.
Salonga said he has never met with any official or representative of Blackwater USA, supposedly a US company that hires foreign mercenaries to help Americans fight in Iraq.
The SBMA was reacting to published reports that the Subic Freeport, being a former US naval base, has acquired a new role as the centre for recruitment of Filipino mercenaries.
The reports claimed that the SBMA and Blackwater had signed an agreement regarding the supposed recruitment programme.
Citing sources, other reports claimed that Blackwater went ahead with its recruitment despite the lack of a locator's licence after its supposed local representative, identified as Romy Redeliza, allegedly received Salonga's go-ahead.
Salonga, however, said he has absolutely no recollection of any agreement between the SBMA and the company.
"I have never spoken with any personality nor forged any transaction with any company under the name of Blackwater.
However, if they have in their possession a copy of the agreement which they claim that I allegedly signed, then the SBMA will certainly evaluate and take appropriate action on the matter," he said.
"Yes, indeed, there is an ongoing labour recruitment programme, but only for interested industrial workers for deployment to the Freeport's most current and active business investors; this, being true to the thrust of President Arroyo's agenda of job-generation for the Filipinos," he added.
By Claro Cortes
Gulf News 2006. All rights reserved.
