JEDDAH, 17 April 2006 — The Philippine mission yesterday appealed to Filipino workers in the Kingdom to strictly follow local laws and be honest at work to avoid getting in trouble.
Ambassador Bahnarim A. Guinomla and Consul General Pendosina N. Lomondot issued the reminder after a local court sentenced 22 Filipino workers to three-year jail terms each for stealing gold from the mine that employs them.
A big number of Filipinos in Jeddah are also reportedly under investigation over various offenses, including gambling activities, cockfighting, and the so-called “Sawa card scam.” Unconfirmed reports say some have been held for investigation in relation to the suspected death of three Filipinos earlier reported missing.
Reports reaching the Philippine Consulate in Jeddah showed that the 22 who were convicted for theft were mostly employees of the Saudi Arabian Mining Company. The mine is located in Madinah.
It was not clear where the convicts are imprisoned. Arab News gathered that some of them were engineers.
A report by a local newspaper quoted court sources as saying the Filipino “gang” had stolen an estimated 1.8 tons of gold from the mine over a six-year period.
At the current rate of 72,600 Saudi riyals per kilogram of gold, 1.8 tons would run up to 130 million riyals or about $34.8 million.
Investigators found that the gang smuggled huge amounts of gold in connivance with another Filipino working in the cargo section of the King Abdul Aziz Airport in Jeddah, the report said.
Because of the theft, the authorities have annulled the work contracts of the Filipinos, replacing them with Saudi nationals.
In an appeal through Arab News, Ambassador Guinomla expressed concern over the “unfortunate” development and appealed to other Filipinos in the Kingdom to always keep away from trouble.
“Let us not allow a few bad eggs to give us a negative image,” he said in a phone interview.
He said obeying local laws is a high form of appreciation to the host country for providing much-needed jobs to Filipinos.
Last night, Consul General Lomondot called a meeting with community leaders in Jeddah to seek their help in reminding other OFWs, including their respective families, to keep away from vices and other irregularities.
“As OFWs, you are the ambassadors of goodwill and therefore it is your responsibility to maintain the good image and reputation of Filipinos and the Republic of the Philippines as a whole,” he told those present during the meeting.
Lomondot assured the community leaders that the consulate is doing its best to ensure that the rights of those who are under arres or investigation would be respected.
He said he has requested the authorities to provide the consulate a list of those being questioned.
Community leaders said it is about time those involved in illegal activities stop. They also urged Filipinos in the Kingdom to save their hard-earned money instead of wasting these on non-essentials. Filipinos are a favorite of shopowners in Saudi Arabia for being spendthrift.
“Now that we are in this crisis situation, I personally appeal to our kababayans to refrain from loitering or roaming around places if it is not necessary,” said Jimmy Beltran, executive director of the Jameel Sports Organization.
Ronnie Gogola, an officer of the Bag-ong Bicol Saro nin Jeddah, said community groups ought to help in disseminating proper information in times of crises to their members to avoid the spread of rumors and false reports, which could cause panic.