OWWA 6: No information yet of Ilonggo OFWs held in Saudi
The regional office 6 of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) could not confirm yet if there are Ilonggo Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) included in those who were arrested and detained in Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) and who are the subject of investigation of Saudi authorities in connection with missing Filipinos and on certain illegal activities.
When contacted by the Philippine Information Agency (PIA), OWWA VI Officer - in - Charge Reynold Pigar said they have not received any information from their Central Office related to this matter.
Last April 17, Consul General Pendosina N. Lomondot of the Philippine Consulate General in Jeddah reported to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) that "52 OFWs, 6 of whom are women, are under detention for questioning" in connection with the discovery of the Jeddah police on April 4, 2006 of human body parts inside black garbage plastic bags in southern Jeddah and the police investigation on the reported missing OFWs and on illegal activities such as drug trafficking, trading and consumption of liquor and gambling or lottery.
He further said that there are now only three missing OFWs from the previous six OFWs as earlier reported. The three OFWs were found by Consulate officials to be among those arrested by the Jeddah police.
On his April 19, 2006 report to the DFA, Lomondot said that as a result of the investigation by the Jeddah police, three missing OFWs were confirmed dead after their alleged assailants, two OFWs who were earlier arrested, admitted to the offense. The two suspects also implicated two other OFWs as accessories, who were arrested and detained on April 16,2006.
Lomondot said that with his meeting with the Chief of Intelligence of the Janoobiyah Police Station last April 17 he was assured that "those found innocent will be released to their respective employers or sponsors as soon as possible".
President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has instructed the DFA to maintain close coordination with the Saudi authorities to ensure that no stone is left unturned in the investigation.
The DFA reported that Acting Foreign Affairs Secretary Rafael E. Seguis, in a recent meeting at the DFA office, with H.E. Mohammed Ameen Mohammed Wali, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, expressed President Arroyo's concern over the reported arrest and detention of a large number of Filipino workers in KSA.
Seguis also informed Ambassador Wali that the President further emphasizes the importance of respecting the rights of the Filipinos, of access by Philippine consular officials to the detained OFWs in accordance with the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations and of ensuring the physical well- being of the OFWs during the detention and investigation.
(PIA)