RAS TANURA, 25 July 2007 — Families of the two Filipinos who died in a fire accident last Thursday at the Aramco facility in Ras Tanura, were seeking assistance from the Philippine Embassy in Riyadh on the immediate repatriation of their remains.
Fernando Marciano, a 46-year-old welder, and Roy Palacios, a 39-year-old mechanical supervisor, were two of the reported three fatalities in the fire while at work at the North Product Terminal at Ras Tanura.
An Indian also died and 13 others were injured. The injured included six Indians, five Sri Lankans, a Bangladeshi and a Saudi national. All of them are now being treated in different hospitals.
Ambassador Antonio P. Villamor confirmed the deaths of the two Filipinos and has instructed Labor Attaché David Des Dicang to work on the immediate repatriation of the remains of Marciano and Palacios, and their benefits due from their company.
“We are still waiting for the final result of the investigation from the concerned authorities. However, we will ensure to expedite the repatriation of the remains of the two Filipinos and claim whatever benefits or insurance we can get for them since this was work related accident,” Villamor told Arab News.
Dicang, who is the new head of the Philippine Overseas Labor Office — Eastern Region Operations (POLO-ERO), said that he already contacted the employer of the two Filipinos, which is a contracting company working inside the Aramco facilities in Ras Tanura.
“We got assurance from the Hadi Hammam Establishment that they will facilitate immediately the documentations needed for the repatriation and the benefits due to the worker,” Dicang said.
Rolando Antonio, Marciano’s brother-in-law, said that Fernando left behind his wife Armelita and three children, who are currently living in Rodriguez (formerly Montalban town) of Rizal province. Palacios is from Cadiz City in Negros Occidental province.