RIYADH, 26 October 2005 — A Filipino worker here who was reported missing since Oct. 18 has been found dead, the Philippine Embassy was told yesterday. Felipe Castillo Lualhati was killed in a road accident and his body is at the Imam Hospital in Haraj, Riyadh, his officemate Mario Palomares told the embassy’s Assistance to Nationals Section (ANS).
“Lualhati was riding a bike and he died due to vehicular accident near Batha,” said the e-mail addressed to ANS head Vice Consul Romulo Israel Jr. No details of the accident were available.
Lualhati was the executive secretary to the general manager of A. Abunayyan Trading Corporation for the past 8 years, Palomares said. His disappearance was the subject of e-mails circulated by a certain “Amy” in the Philippines, who was seeking assistance in behalf of her officemate Samantha, reportedly a daughter of the victim.
Arab News learned of Lualhati’s fate from Rosendo Sumaoang, a community leader in Riyadh, who took it upon himself to check with Abunayyan Trading after reading Amy’s e-m ail.
Palomares said that the body of Lualhati and the benefits due his dependents would be sent home soon by the company.
Vice Consul Israel said the Department of Foreign Affairs had contacted Lualhati’s wife, Carlota, in San Pedro town of Laguna, near Manila.
“I don’t think we can repatriate the body very soon due to the long holidays,” said Israel, referring to the 2-week Eid holidays starting Thursday for government offices.