Kin of OFWs stranded in Saudi hold 'solidarity' campout at DFA Manila, call for repatriation


Relatives of Filipinos stranded in Saudi Arabia on Monday camped out in front of the Department of Foreign Affairs in Pasay City to show solidarity with their loved ones.
 
The campers asked the Philippine government to facilitate the repatriation of their loved ones soonest, radio dzBB's Mao dela Cruz reported.
 
DFA security personnel closed the gates to keep the protesters from entering the premises, and wrapped the DFA seal to prevent the protesters from defacing it.
 
Organizers of the solidarity action set up tents in front of the DFA and said they plan to hold the campout until May 1, Labor Day.
 
Several Filipinos in Saudi Arabia had camped out in front of the Philippine Consulate in Jeddah to seek help in getting home soonest.
 
Last week, Philippine Consul General Uriel Norman Garibay said some of the Filipinos camped outside the Philippine consulate are getting sick but are getting assistance. 
 
Earlier, Garibay said as many as 1,500 to 2,000 Filipinos wanting to return to the Philippines camped outside the consulate during the morning.
 
He said they are trying to convince the campers to move to a temporary shelter so they would not be exposed to the hot sun.
 
The Department of Foreign Affairs had said the Philippine Consulate General in Jeddah is preparing a temporary shelter, even as a "friend" of the Consulate offered to take in 80 women and children and 90 men in his housing compound. —KG, GMA News

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