The remains of 49 overseas Filipino workers (OFW) who died of the new coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and other causes in Saudi Arabia arrived in Manila on Friday and given arrival rites by various government agencies.
The caskets containing the bodies arrived on board Philippine Airlines flight PR-683 from Damman and Riyadh, which landed at Ninoy Aquino International Airport at around 11 a.m.
The remains were brought to the Villamor Air Base for a blessing ceremony presided by the Philippine Air Force chaplain and attended by government officials led by Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana.
Lorenzana hailed the dead OFWs and thanked them for their contributions to the country and their families.
Also present were Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr., Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III, Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III, National Task Force Against COVID-19 chief implementer Carlito Galvez Jr., Overseas Workers Welfare Administrator Hans Leo Cacdac and PAL vice president for security Ceasar Ronnie Ordoyo.