PHL envoy: Three Pinoy protesters arrested in Riyadh 'for security reasons'

Philippine Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Ezzedin Tago said the three Filipinos who protested outside the Philippine Embassy in Riyadh were arrested on Saturday "for security reasons."

Tago told Saudi news site Arab News, "The police responsible for ensuring security at the Diplomatic Quarter in Riyadh picked up a few of the workers and later released them ... There is no justification to organize any protest or demonstration in front of the embassy, when we are doing our best to help solve all problems."

On Saturday, Arab News said some 150 Filipinos gathered in front of the embassy and protested the embassy's alleged failure to help Filipinos seeking repatriation.

The migrant workers group Migrante International said the three Filipinos who were arrested on Saturday after holding a “peaceful protest” outside the Philippine Embassy were freed on the same day.

“As of 12:30pm, KSA (Kingdom of Saudi Arabia) time, the three OFWs  (0verseas Filipino workers) arrested by the Saudi police have been released,” Migrante said in a statement posted on its website.

Migrante identified the three arrested Filipinos as Lyndon Salonga, Juan Carlos, and Jon Jon de Vera.

The embassy earlier 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."

On the Arab News article, Tago noted that workers from other countries did not hold protests outside their embassies at the Diplomatic Quarter.

"I don’t know why the community organizations decided to hold protests," he said.

Meanwhile, Tago said more than 7,500 Filipino workers have so far registered for repatriation at the embassy and the Philippine Consulate in Jeddah.

— LBG/VVP, GMA News

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