The Philippines on Thursday denied reports that the imminent mass deportation of Filipino illegals from the United States was in retaliation for the pullout of Philippine troops from Iraq.

"This is a regular implementation or strict implementation of US immigration laws, which started in 2001, after the (September 11 attacks)," a local dzMM radio station quoted Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs spokesman Roberto Asuque as saying.

The Filipinos who are facing deportation included illegal workers and those convicted for violating US criminal laws, Asuquesaid.

He said the Philippine Consulate General in Los Angeles, California, is ensuring that the Filipino deportees' rights are respected.

On Wednesday, Senator Manuel Villar, chair of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, linked the deportation of 89 Filipinos last week to the country's decision to withdraw its small humanitarian contingent from Iraq in exchange for the release of Filipino truck driver Angelo de la Cruz by his Iraqi captors.

The reported plan by the United States to deport 300,000 Filipino illegals is apparently in retaliation for the pullout of Philippine troops from Iraq, Villar said.

However, the US Embassy in Manila denied that the deportation was a retaliatory move. The United States has criticized Manila for its decision of thepullout, but maintained the two countries remain allies.

Source: Xinhua