18 Pinoys arrested in Saudi for ‘mixed gathering’

MANILA, Philippines – Migrante International yesterday sought the immediate release of 18 Filipinos who were arrested Friday for being in an illegal “mixed gathering” in Saudi Arabia, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said yesterday.

Citing an embassy report, the DFA said Saudi police arrested 10 officers and members of Migrante and eight FiIipina workers during a raid in the Badiyah area.

Saudi laws forbid the gathering of men and women in private and public places, unless they are married couples or with their families.

Migrante chair Gary Martinez clarified that the arrested officers and members of the Migrante-Kapatiran sa Gitnang Silangan (KGS) were only providing assistance to overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).

“They were conducting their regular weekly case dialogues and counseling to OFW victims of maltreatment and abuses who ran away from their employers,” Martinez said.

According to John Monterona, Migrante Middle East coordinator, Migrante’s Saudi chapter has been receiving an average of five cases daily.

Since its inception, KGS has rescued or facilitated the rescue of thousands of OFWs in Saudi Arabia and has also been at the forefront of a campaign for the defense and protection of migrant areas in the region.

Meanwhile, Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Antonio Villamor has instructed embassy personnel to go to the police station and ask about the welfare of the detained Filipinos.

Embassy representatives told the local police that Migrante is an NGO recognized by the Embassy and that a meeting might have been conducted in the residence of a Migrante member when it was raided.

Ricardo Joson, Migrante’s Riyadh coordinator and two others, have been released but the rest remain in police custody while the legitimacy of their stay in Saudi Arabia is being evaluated through their iqamas, an official identity card that serves as a residence permit.

Saudi gov’t asked to release OFWs

Embassy representatives also offered to contact the employers of the detained OFWs and requested Saudi police authorities to allow them temporary release to their employers.

“In alleged immorality cases, only the Saudi Prosecutor’s Office can recommend kafala (sponsorship system wherein employers have control over their workers’ visas) after the conduct of the investigation. The case of the Filipino workers was transmitted by the police authorities to the Prosecutor’s Office on Aug. 16 for further action,” the DFA said.

But the DFA also reminded all OFWs to observe and be mindful of local customs, traditions and laws.

The DFA had challenged Migrante to work with government agencies to provide assistance to Filipino workers abroad in a timely manner instead of always criticizing and blaming the government.

Migrante can help by providing the DFA information such as the full name or aliases of OFWs in distress, their exact location and contact details, next of kin, and whether the DFA has been informed of the case.

Migrante, on the other hand, reiterated its appeal to the government to “ensure the release of all our officers and guarantee their safety,” Martinez said.

He also called on the Philippine government to decisively address the problem of migrant rights violations in Saudi Arabia, which he said are increasing in number and severity. –Mayen Jaymalin and Pia Lee-Brago (philstar.com)