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Embassy of the Philippines, Amman

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Coordinates: 31°57′4.9″N 35°52′5.1″E / 31.951361°N 35.868083°E / 31.951361; 35.868083
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Embassy of the Philippines, Amman
Pasuguan ng Pilipinas sa Amman
سفارة الفلبين في عمان
Map
LocationAmman
Address20 Salah Touqan Street, Sweifieh
Coordinates31°57′4.9″N 35°52′5.1″E / 31.951361°N 35.868083°E / 31.951361; 35.868083
AmbassadorWilfredo C. Santos
Websiteammanpe.dfa.gov.ph

The Embassy of the Philippines in Amman is the diplomatic mission of the Republic of the Philippines to the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. It is located in the neighborhood of Sweifieh in the Wadi Al-Seer district of western Amman. Although the current embassy dates from 1998, the Philippines also maintained a previous resident embassy in Jordan between 1980 and 1993.

History

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Diplomatic relations between the Philippines and Jordan were established on March 1, 1976, although a resident mission in Jordan would not be immediately established by the Philippine government. An honorary consulate was first established in 1979, led by Costandi M. Muna.[1]

A resident mission in Jordan was finally opened in 1980, when Rafael E. Seguis, who would later become Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs, was designated as the mission's chargé d'affaires.[1] The following year, he was replaced by Cesar C. Pastores, who in 1983 would become the Philippines' first resident ambassador to Jordan.[1] This first mission, however, was closed in 1993 due to financial constraints,[2] and was subsequently replaced by another honorary consulate, led by retired major general Shafiq Jumean, which was placed under the jurisdiction of the Philippine Embassy in Baghdad.[1]

The embassy was reopened in 1998 due to the increasing numbers of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) working in Jordan, as well as in recognition of Jordan's critical role in the various peace processes in the Middle East.[1]

In June 2013, an Embassy staff member was accused by Representative Walden Bello of being complicit in a sexual exploitation ring involving female OFWs in their care, which also implicated other missions in the Middle East.[3] Later identified to be the welfare officer for the mission's Philippine Overseas Labor Office,[4] he denied any involvement in the scheme.[5] Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario nonetheless opened an investigation into the matter, and even temporarily recalled Ambassador Olivia V. Palala so she can assist him in the probe.[4] A separate probe was also opened by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) on the matter,[6] and several members of the Senate sought to investigate the scandal as well.[7] The welfare officer was subsequently suspended by the DOLE without pay for four months on unrelated charges of using indecent language with distressed OFWs and viewing pornographic materials on a government-issued laptop,[8] and although he appealed the DOLE's decision,[9] it was later upheld with a further suspension on future overseas deployments.[8]

Chancery

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The chancery of the Philippine Embassy in Amman relocated to Sweifieh on June 1, 2022,[10] moving from its previous location in the neighboring neighborhood of Abdoun.[11] The new chancery was inaugurarated on Independence Day, June 12, 2022, by Ambassador Akmad A. Sakkam and Embassy personnel, with members of the Filipino community in Jordan also in attendance.[12]

Staff and activities

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The Philippine Embassy in Amman is currently headed by Ambassador Wilfredo C. Santos, who was appointed to the position by President Bongbong Marcos on September 1, 2022.[13] Prior to becoming Ambassador, Santos, a career diplomat, headed the Philippine Embassy in Tehran as ambassador to Iran,[14] and before that headed the Philippine Embassy in Doha as ambassador to Qatar.[15] His appointment was confirmed by the Commission on Appointments on September 28, 2022,[16] and he presented his credentials to King Abdullah II on March 8, 2023.[17]

Many of the embassy's activities center around the protection and welfare of OFWs deployed to Jordan, including controlling the flow of Filipino labor into the country,[18] and ensuring that Filipinos already working in Jordan are able to regularize their status.[19] Its record though is mixed; in 2013, around 30 stranded OFWs protested at the embassy, demanding their immediate repatriation to the Philippines.[20] Beyond that function, the embassy has also been involved in a number of cultural initiatives to promote ties between the Philippines and Jordan, such as arranging showings of Filipino films in the country,[21] and organizing a Filipino food bazaar.[22]

The embassy is also responsible for the Philippines' relationship with the State of Palestine, and as such it exercises jurisdiction over Filipinos residing in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. Since the outbreak of the Israel–Hamas war in October 2023 it has overseen efforts to evacuate Filipinos from both territories,[23][24] but it has also engaged in consular outreach missions,[25][26] as well as virtual consultations with the Filipino community in Palestine.[27]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e "Brief History of Philippine Embassy Amman, Jordan". Embassy of the Philippines, Amman. Retrieved June 23, 2024.
  2. ^ Slomanson, William R. (2011). Fundamental Perspectives on International Law (PDF) (6th ed.). Boston: Wadsworth. p. 87. ISBN 978-0-495-79719-7. LCCN 2009940128. OCLC 428032361 – via the Inter-American Court of Human Rights. Certain States, however, can afford embassies in only a few places. In 1993, the Philippines announced that it would close its consulates in a number of US cities. It also closed its embassies in Cuba, Jordan, Micronesia, Morocco, Peru, Poland, Romania, Senegal, and Sri Lanka.
  3. ^ Salaverria, Leila B. (June 18, 2013). "Legislator bares sexual exploitation of Filipinas by PH embassy personnel". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved June 23, 2024.
  4. ^ a b Boncocan, Karen (June 19, 2013). "Embassy execs linked to sex ring ordered back to Manila for probe". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved June 23, 2024.
  5. ^ Salaverria, Leila B. (June 19, 2013). "Sex in PH embassies". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved June 23, 2024.
  6. ^ Boncocan, Karen (August 14, 2013). "DOLE to submit findings on 'sex-for-flight' probe, Baldoz tells lawmakers". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved July 24, 2024.
  7. ^ Yamsuan, Cathy C. (June 20, 2013). "Senators seek probe of scandal". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved July 31, 2024.
  8. ^ a b Santos, Tina G. (April 10, 2014). "Labor execs in sex-for-flight scandal grounded". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved July 24, 2024.
  9. ^ Santos, Tina G. (December 26, 2013). "Exec in sex-for-flight scandal appeals suspension". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved July 24, 2024.
  10. ^ "Starting 01 June 2022, we will be fully operational at the new Embassy chancery in Sweifieh" (Press release). Embassy of the Philippines, Amman. May 31, 2022. Retrieved June 23, 2024.
  11. ^ REQUEST FOR QUOTATION HIRING THE SERVICES OF A MOVING COMPANY FOR THE TRANSFER OF EMBASSY OFFICE FROM ABDOUN, AMMAN TO ITS NEW LOCATION IN SWEIFIAH, AMMAN JORDAN (PDF) (Report). Embassy of the Philippines, Amman. April 27, 2022. Retrieved June 23, 2024.
  12. ^ "Philippine Embassy Celebrates Independence Day, Inaugurates New Chancery" (Press release). Embassy of the Philippines, Amman. June 22, 2022. Retrieved June 23, 2024.
  13. ^ ACTION: CONFIRMED – Ad Interim / Nomination – From: June 30, 2022 To: May 31, 2023 (PDF) (Report). Commission on Appointments. p. 6. Retrieved June 23, 2024.
  14. ^ Fadriquela, Jerome (August 27, 2021). "Pinay na biktima ng domestic violence sa Iran, nakauwi na sa Pilipinas" [Filipina domestic violence victim in Iran returns home to the Philippines] (in Filipino). ABS-CBN News and Current Affairs. Retrieved June 23, 2024.
  15. ^ Ager, Maila (March 12, 2014). "CA confirms appointment of 8 ambassadors, 87 DFA officials". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved June 23, 2024.
  16. ^ Fernandez, Daniza (September 28, 2022). "Manalo, 23 other DFA execs hurdle CA confirmation". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved June 30, 2024.
  17. ^ "PH Ambassador Wilfredo Santos Presents Credentials to His Majesty King Abdullah II of Jordan" (Press release). Department of Foreign Affairs of the Philippines. March 10, 2023. Retrieved June 23, 2024.
  18. ^ Pazzibugan, Dona Z. (December 14, 2020). "Deployment of workers to Jordan suspended". Cebu Daily News. Inquirer Group of Companies. Retrieved June 23, 2024.
  19. ^ "1100 Filipino workers rectify their residence, work status". Jordan News Agency. January 8, 2020. Retrieved June 23, 2024.
  20. ^ Carcamo, Dennis (April 23, 2013). "OFWs picket shelter in Jordan". The Philippine Star. Retrieved June 23, 2024.
  21. ^ "Pinoy docufilm na 'Halawod' itinanghal sa Women's Film Week sa Jordan" [Filipino documentary film 'Halawod' screened at Jordan's Women's Film Week] (in Filipino). ABS-CBN News and Current Affairs. March 31, 2023. Retrieved December 5, 2022.
  22. ^ "Food Bazaar sa Jordan ibinida ang pagkain at kulturang Pinoy" [Filipino food and culture is the star at the Food Bazaar in Jordan] (in Filipino). ABS-CBN News and Current Affairs. June 27, 2023. Retrieved December 5, 2022.
  23. ^ Abarca, Charie (February 22, 2024). "Last batch of 14 Filipinos back in PH from war-torn Gaza, says DFA". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved June 23, 2024.
  24. ^ Marcelo, Elizabeth; Jaymalin, Mayen (November 24, 2023). "5 Filipinos cross West Bank border to Jordan". The Philippine Star. Retrieved June 23, 2024.
  25. ^ "Philippine Embassy in Jordan Conducts 1st Consular Outreach Mission in Gaza in since 2019" (Press release). Embassy of the Philippines, Amman. March 28, 2022. Retrieved June 24, 2024.
  26. ^ "Philippine Embassy in Jordan Resumes Consular Outreach in the West Bank, State of Palestine" (Press release). Embassy of the Philippines, Amman. August 30, 2022. Retrieved June 24, 2024.
  27. ^ "Philippine Embassy Holds Virtual Meeting with Filcom Leaders in Palestine" (Press release). Embassy of the Philippines, Amman. February 10, 2023. Retrieved June 24, 2024.
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