OWWA assists families of 14 Pinoys hurt in Riyadh blast



ANDREI MEDINA, GMA NEWS 

The Overseas Worker’s Welfare Administration (OWWA) has assisted the families of 14 Filipinos who were injured in the Riyadh tanker explosion that killed at least 23 persons — including Filipino Florentino Santiago — and injured 135 others on October 31.
 
In a report of Jam Sistante on GMA Network's "24 Oras" newscast on Thursday, OWWA Administrator Carmelita Dimzon said the assistance extended to the families included one-on-one counseling and stress debriefing sessions.
 
“Kung ano yung kailangan nila na tulong, makikinig kami,” Dimzon said.
 
One of those injured in the incident is Ruben Kebeng, the Filipino truck driver of the tanker that exploded.

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) earlier said Kebeng  is currently being held by Saudi authorities. 
 
"He is still under investigation. Wala pang katiyakan, he is just a mere suspect. We are preparing to provide legal assistance to the Filipino driver and to help him in his defense," DFA spokesman Raul Hernandez said in a report of Saleema Refran on GMA Network's "News To Go" program on November 6.

Filipino Melchor Labi, who drove one of the tankers in the convoy with Kebeng,  told GMA News that he noticed smoke coming from the tanker being driven by Kebeng before the explosion. 

Labi said Kebeng stopped the tanker before the explosion, allowing two of the seven LPG tankers in the convoy to turn around.

One of Kebeng's relatives — Josephine Sawac Kebeng — asked the OWWA for help.
 
“Ang hinihiling ko sa gobyerno at sa OWWA at DFA ay yung tuloy-tuloy na pagtulong sa anak ko na si Ruben na sana nasa mabuti siyang kalagayan doon,” Josephine said.
 
“At kung puwede sana ay kahit makausap man lang namin sa text or telepono,” she added.
 
The OWWA said that they are also giving counseling and debriefing sessions for Kebeng’s family here in the Philippines.
 
“Deserves to be protected”
 
Meanwhile, Philippine Vice President Jejomar Binay said the "government is doing all it can to give support to all those affected by the blast.”
 
He also said Philippine Embassy in Riyadh is doing all it can to help Kebeng.
 
“Huwag natin ikasama ng loob na tinutulungan ng embahada natin yung nagmamaneho [ng truck na sumabog],” he said.
 
“Kailangan lamang na masiguro na naproprotektahan siya at yung tamang proseso ng imbestigasyon,” Binay said, adding, “He deserves to be protected also.” - VVP, GMA News

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