Over 160 undocumented Pinoy workers repatriated from Saudi

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said 164 undocumented overseas Filipino workers (OFW) have been repatriated from Saudi amid a looming crackdown on illegal workers.

The latest group to be repatriated this week consisted of 40 Filipinos from Jeddah, including some children, according to GMA Network's "24 Oras" newscast on Tuesday.

The DFA called for calm amid reports of brewing violence in both the Philippine Embassy in Riyadh and the Consulate in Jeddah.

“The government is doing everything to help them but they must follow the procedures prescribed by the Saudi government if they want to be repatriated,” DFA spokesman Raul Hernandez said.

On Saturday, a group of male Filipinos allegedly stormed the office of the Jeddah consulate to demand for their passports.

One of the males allegedly punched a consul while other officials were also allegedly attacked.

The incident stemmed from the Saudi crackdown against foreign illegal workers that started on March 28, 2013. 

However, the Saudi King suspended the crackdown for three months starting April 6.

The reprieve, which will end on July 4 this year, aims to give foreigners in the kingdom a chance to sort out their papers.

Undocumented OFWs have already flocked and established makeshift tent cities at Philippine embassies and consulates in the kingdom to avail of further concessions offered by Saudi while hoping for a speedy repatriation. - Andrei Medina, VVP, GMA News

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