Officials linked to OFW deployment in Iraq

Manila: A syndicate at Manila's foreign affairs department has been selling unmarked passports to Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) who were deployed illegally to Iraq, a local newspaper said, adding the syndicate has found a way to help OFWs go to Iraq despite the government's deployment ban.

"It's the new big racket (at the foreign ministry). Malacañang (the presidential palace) should not be surprised if more and more OFWs are turning up in Iraq despite the dangers of the war there and the government's deployment ban," Malaya quoted a source as saying. The syndicate sells passports without a travel ban to Iraq for $96.15 to $480.76, said the source, adding that the issuance of the said travel documents in less than 24 hours fetch a higher price, Malaya said.

The manpower company that is recruiting OFWs for deployment to Iraq are the ones buying unmarked passports, said the paper, adding that the ongoing corruption is a "two way lane".

In reaction, Ambassador Gilbert Asuque, spokesman of the foreign ministry, said that any Filipino with Philippine travel document is not allowed to cross to Iraq even if with a "clean passport".