Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 22) — At least 353 remains of overseas Filipino workers who died of various causes in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia are up for disposition, Philippine Ambassador Adnan Alonto bared Monday.
Alonto said of this number, 107 have died due to COVID-19, while 246 died due to natural causes and various crime incidents. The number is higher than the 282 mentioned Sunday by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Malacanang.
Alonto did not disclose when the Filipinos died and how long it takes to process the repatriation of the bodies. He added that the government is already coordinating with the Department of Foreign Affairs in facilitating the repatriation.
“Nag-issue po ng requirement ang authorities na kapag COVID-19 ang cause (Authorities issued a requirement that for COVID-19 related deaths), the body should be disposed within 24 hours,” Alonto said during the “Laging Handa” briefing with government officials.
He said in Saudi Arabia, bodies are usually buried within 24 hours in observance of the Islamic custom, but the disposition of the remains of non-Muslims is respected as there is overcapacity of morgues and hospitals in the kingdom. There are more than 800,000 OFWs in Saudi Arabia.
“Noong nagkaroon po tayo ng almost three months na lockdown, walang lumilipad, nagkaroon po tayo ng backlog, so iyon po largely ang naging cause,” he claimed.
[Translation: When we had a three-month lockdown, there are no flights, so we had a backlog, and that was largely the cause.]
Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III told DZMM Teleradyo on Sunday that Saudi Arabia gave the Philippines 72 hours to bring home the remains of the OFWs who died there. The bodies of at least 50 who died due to COVID-19 will be buried in the Gulf State, he added. As it turned out from Alonto’s report, 107 of the OFWs died due to the coronavirus disease.
Locsin met with Saudi Arabia Ambassador to Manila Abdullah Al Bussairy last June 15 to discuss, among others, how to bring back the remains of the deceased OFWs.
Meanwhile, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said cash benefits will be provided to the families of OFWs who died in Saudi Arabia.
The government will also charter three airplanes to transport the remains of the OFWs from there, he added.
