DFA verifying report on 3 Filipinos arrested in S.A. for terrorism

DFA spokesman Charles Jose. AP FILE PHOTO

The Department of Foreign Affairs in Manila is verifying the report on three Filipinos among those arrested by the Saudi authorities for terrorism.

A Saudi Arabia newspaper, the Arab News, reported that operations carried out by the special authorities of the Saudi government from December 23 to 31 last year resulted in the arrest of 44 terror suspects.

Besides three Filipinos, the Saudi authorities have arrested five Syrians, four Yemenis, a Sudanese and 31 Saudi nationals, the Arab News said.

“We are still verifying if the report is true. The initial feedback from the Philippine Embassy in Riyadh was that there was no information from the Saudi government about this.” Assistant Secretary Charles Jose, spokesperson for the DFA, said in an interview.

Arab News said the largest number of arrests were made on the first day of the operation, with 10 Saudi nationals and one Yemeni being arrested.

Nine suspects, including three Syrians were arrested the following day.

The authorities arrested 10 more on the fifth day of the operation, including seven Saudis, a Yemeni, a Sudanese and a Syrian. TVJ