3 chartered flights to return remains of OFWs from Saudi
Published Jun 23, 2020 12:00 am
By Jeffrey Damicog
Arrangements are being made to have three chartered flights to bring home overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who have died in Saudi Arabia, said Presidential spokesman Harry Roque on Tuesday, June 23.
Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque
(CAMILLE ANTE / MANILA BULLETIN) “There was talk last night that they will be chartering three flights to bring home the remains,” he disclosed during an interview over CNN Philippines. “So, we are not sparing any expense in bringing home the remains of those who could be brought home,” he added. Recently, Philippine Ambassador to Riyadh Adnan Alonto said there currently 353 remains of OFWs awaiting repatriation to the Philippines including 107 persons who succumbed to the 2019 novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and 246 who mostly died of natural causes. Roque said he is not surprised that there is a large numbers of dead Filipinos in Saudi Arabia. “Hindi naman po siguro nakakasorpresa kasi pinakamarami po talagang OFWs natin ay diyan sa Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (I am no longer surprised because we have the largest number of OFWs in Saudi Arabia),” he said. “They are the number one destination for Filipino OFWs,” he added. On the other hand, he admitted concern over the number of dead Filipinos who got infected with COVID-19. “I can only surmise siguro dahil mga nakatira sila sa mga dormitoryo (I can only surprise that the reason for the infections is that they are living in dormitories),” the spokesman said. “Mahirap siguro mag-social distancing kasi mga OFW housing din ang mga tinutuluyan nila (It is difficult to observe social distancing because they are staying in OFW housing facilities),” he lamented. Alonto said the lockdown in Saudi Arabia caused by the pandemic has created a huge backlog in the number of remains of Filipinos during the past several months. The ambassador said the Philippine Embassy has already made representations with the Saudi government regarding arrangements for the repatriation of the bodies while also seeking an exemption from the Muslim tradition of immediately burying the remains. Adding to the problem, Alonto said many morgues and hospitals in Saudi Arabia have already reached their capacities. At the onset of the pandemic, the Saudi government has required that COVID-related remains should be disposed of within 72 hours.
Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque(CAMILLE ANTE / MANILA BULLETIN) “There was talk last night that they will be chartering three flights to bring home the remains,” he disclosed during an interview over CNN Philippines. “So, we are not sparing any expense in bringing home the remains of those who could be brought home,” he added. Recently, Philippine Ambassador to Riyadh Adnan Alonto said there currently 353 remains of OFWs awaiting repatriation to the Philippines including 107 persons who succumbed to the 2019 novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and 246 who mostly died of natural causes. Roque said he is not surprised that there is a large numbers of dead Filipinos in Saudi Arabia. “Hindi naman po siguro nakakasorpresa kasi pinakamarami po talagang OFWs natin ay diyan sa Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (I am no longer surprised because we have the largest number of OFWs in Saudi Arabia),” he said. “They are the number one destination for Filipino OFWs,” he added. On the other hand, he admitted concern over the number of dead Filipinos who got infected with COVID-19. “I can only surmise siguro dahil mga nakatira sila sa mga dormitoryo (I can only surprise that the reason for the infections is that they are living in dormitories),” the spokesman said. “Mahirap siguro mag-social distancing kasi mga OFW housing din ang mga tinutuluyan nila (It is difficult to observe social distancing because they are staying in OFW housing facilities),” he lamented. Alonto said the lockdown in Saudi Arabia caused by the pandemic has created a huge backlog in the number of remains of Filipinos during the past several months. The ambassador said the Philippine Embassy has already made representations with the Saudi government regarding arrangements for the repatriation of the bodies while also seeking an exemption from the Muslim tradition of immediately burying the remains. Adding to the problem, Alonto said many morgues and hospitals in Saudi Arabia have already reached their capacities. At the onset of the pandemic, the Saudi government has required that COVID-related remains should be disposed of within 72 hours.