MANILA, Philippines - A firm in Bonifacio Global City that processes the medical requirements of the Kuwait-bound Filipino workers could actually be a front of the extremist Islamic State (IS), lawmakers warned yesterday.
Reps. Rosemarie Arenas of Pangasinan, Emmerenciana de Jesus of Gabriela party-list, Jesulito Manalo of Angkla party-list, and Harry Roque of Kabayan party-list raised alarm over reports that suspected IS member and Kuwait citizen Husayn al-Dhafiri, who was arrested last March 25, was the operations manager of Winston Q8.
The House committee on overseas workers affairs probed Winston Q8, which does business by collecting fees for medical certificates for Filipino workers bound for Kuwait, last year for alleged fraudulent schemes.
Al-Dhafiri was arrested with his wife, Syrian Rahaf Zina, at the office of Winston Q8.
The Bureau of Immigration (BI) three-member Board of Commissioners yesterday signed an order to deport Zina.
The BI said the Kuwait government cancelled Al-Dhafiri’s passport to speed up the deportation proceedings. He would be deported back to Kuwait and would no longer undergo the BI’s deportation procedure.
The couple is in the custody of the Philippine Army’s Intelligence Service Group at Camp Aguinaldo.
Eye-opener
Arenas, a member of the committee, warned of the possible link between Winston Q8 to ISIS.
“This should be an eye-opener to all agencies and departments in our country,” the lawmaker said.
Roque said the company declared an income of over P96 million last year but actually rakes in P6 million per day.
He said the suspect’s brother, Robandar al-Dhafiri, is Winston Q8 president.
Al-Dhafiri is reportedly an explosives expert and was allegedly plotting attacks against Kuwait when he was arrested. Zina is reportedly the widow of a slain ISIS military commander in Syria.
Other officials of the company were identified as Ahmad Almutairi, Bienvendio Amira Jr., Mahmoud Ahel, Rina Samira Saeed and Dolly Dayanan.
Manalo said the panel will reopen the investigation when Congress resumes session on May 2, this time with other concerned committees, including that of national defense and security, and foreign relations.
The lawmakers also said officials of the Department of Foreign Affairs, Labor and Employment, and Health should be held accountable for the possible breach in the country’s security. – Paolo Romero, Evelyn Macairan, Delon Porcalla