Riyadh Embassy gets OFW flak

RIYADH—A group of Filipinos met early this month at a Philippine restaurant here to  vent  their ire on issues concerning the functioning of the Philippine Embassy.

Overseas Filipino Workers Congress president Alex Bello presided over the meeting, at which Filipinos said they had not heard from the embassy about contingency plans in the event of a United States missile attack on Syria.

“If that happens, Filipinos in the Kingdom could be affected,” they said. They obviously had in mind their experience when Iraq fired Scud missiles at towns in the Kingdom during the Gulf War. Many of them had to hide in various places believed safe. They noted that Philippine embassies in Kuwait and Qatar had issued advisories.

US President Barack Obama has sought  Congress approval for a Syria attack limited in scope. However, the imminent US attack has been suspended as Obama seeks a diplomatic solution to the crisis caused by the alleged use of chemical weapons against Syrian civilians.

Arab News called Ambassador Ezzedin H. Tago for his reaction on the issue but he said he didn’t see the need to issue an advisory yet, adding that he would inform the newspaper if and when he issues one.

He later called Bello to inform him that the embassy as well as the consulate in Jeddah have contingency plans. Bello forwarded to Arab News a letter from Philippine Embassy Minister and Consul General Marshall Louis M. Alferez saying that the Philippine government was closely monitoring the developments in Syria.

“At present, there is no indication of a clear danger to countries neighboring Syria,” he said.

The Filipinos also complained that they have difficulty entering the embassy premises and talk to officials on issues regarding OFWs.

Earlier, an OFW sent a letter through Arab News website complaining about the practice of Filipinos being forced to make an online appointment regarding passport renewal. They pointed out that not all Filipinos have access to the Internet. This is true for janitors, truck drivers, construction workers and household service workers, especially those living in far-flung areas.

“The funny thing is OFWs cannot make an online appointment until December for Riyadh, Dammam, Jubail, Hafar Al-Batin and Hofuf,” he said. Pnoy Xtra/Arab News