Overstaying Pinoys not being urged to camp outside PHL embassy in Saudi — diplomats


Philippine officials in Saudi Arabia denied that their representatives are calling overstaying Filipinos by phone and urging them to camp outside the embassy to seek repatriation.
 
"The Embassy has not authorized any person or group regarding such action, nor has made any representations with the Government of Saudi Arabia for any such arrangement," it said in a May 1 advisory posted on its website Thursday.
 
"Filipinos with irregular status who are affected by recent developments and stricter implementation by Saudi authorities regarding labor and immigration law violations need only visit the Embassy or (the Philippine Overseas Labor Office) to have their respective cases documented and enable them to be given appropriate advice or assistance," it added.
 
According to the embassy, it received inquiries from Filipinos who were verifying calls from "individuals" who encouraged them to camp out near the embassy.
 
The embassy reported that callers were allegedly encouraging overstaying Filipinos to "camp inside the premises of the Philippine Embassy in Riyadh and in areas located adjacent to the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) and the Filipino Workers Resource Center (FWRC) or Bahay Kalinga in Riyadh, in order to seek repatriation."
 
On the other hand, the embassy reminded Filipinos in Saudi Arabia that "public rallies and protests are a violation of Saudi law, and impacts on the ability of the Embassy to deliver much-needed consular services to the Filipino community."
 
For now, the embassy said it is taking information of overstaying Filipinos for documentation purposes, and endorsing these cases to the concerned Saudi authorities.
 
The embassy advised Filipinos to call the following numbers for information regarding assistance the Embassy can extend:
  • Jeddah and regions under the jurisdiction of the Philippine Consulate General in Jeddah (Regions of Makkah Al-Mukarramah, Tabuk, Al-Madinah, Abha, Jizan, Najran): 0555-219-613/0561-956-142
  • Riyadh, Hail, Qassim, Northern Border, Al-Jouf: 054-591-7834
  • Eastern Region: 050-126-9742
- VVP, GMA News

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