Philippines to evacuate workers from parts of Iraq

MANILA, Philippines —

Iraqi men line up at the main army recruiting center to volunteer for military service in Baghdad, Iraq, Thursday, June 19, 2014, after authorities urged Iraqis to help battle insurgents. The campaign by the al-Qaida-inspired Islamic State militants has raised the specter of the sectarian warfare that nearly tore the country apart in 2006 and 2007, with the popular mobilization to fight the insurgents taking an increasingly sectarian slant, particularly after Iraq’s top Shiite cleric made a call to arms on Friday. AP

Department of Foreign Affairs spokesman Charles Jose said 154 Filipinos in the Baghdad area are expected to be pulled out. The rest of the 900 Filipino workers in Iraq are located in Kurdistan, which remains relatively calm, and will not be asked to leave.

The Philippine Embassy in Baghdad and a rapid response team will assist the registration of Filipinos for repatriation, the department said.

Iraqi insurgents seized a pair of cities last week and have pledged to attack Baghdad.

Millions of Filipinos work overseas. Last year, they sent home more than $25 billion, accounting for about 10 percent of the country’s economy.

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