Prepare evacuation plan for OFWs, GMA orders Cimatu

Ensure the safety of 14 million overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in the Middle East.

This was the marching order of President Arroyo to retired general Roy Cimatu, chairman of the Presidential Middle East Preparedness Committee, even as a full-scale war in the region is not about to occur presently.

National Security Adviser Roilo Golez reported yesterday that US State Deputy Secretary Richard Armitage assured him over a telephone conversation that there is no reason for alarm as the report of the United Nations Weapons Inspection team and the International Atomic Energy Agency on Iraq "will not trigger a full-scale war in the region."

However, in anticipation of the eventual outbreak of war between the United States and Iraq, Presidential Spokesman Ignacio Bunye said that Cimatu was given blanket authority by the President to prepare the necessary contingency plan.

Cimatu is now in the Middle East monitoring developments in the region.

Golez said Armitage, who was his schoolmate at the US Naval Academy, disclosed to him that the State of the Union Address of US President George Bush is also not expected to contain a dramatic declaration on Iraq.

"Armitage told me that President Bush’s (address) will be mostly on domestic issues," Golez said.

According to Golez, Armitage is aware that there are 14 million OFWs in the Middle East and assured him that he would keep an open, personal and direct channel with him to make sure that the Philippine government is well informed on developments in the Middle East.

"The Philippines will be given ample advance warning on the start of hostilities," Golez said.

US Defense Deputy Secretary Richard Lawless made the same assurance to the Philippine government.

"Lawless said there was no authorization yet from President Bush on the start of hostilities, but the US forces are finalizing their war preparations," Golez revealed.

Earlier, Cimatu reported that although the situation in the Middle East was generally peaceful and quiet, the evacuation plan for OFWs is already in place.

Bunye said that Cimatu was given general instructions by the President and was ordered to review all contingency plans.