Embassy rejects outside medical aid for Filipinos

The Philippine Embassy has rejected the request to hold a medical mission for 120 stranded overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) including women and children, according to Filipino migrant rights’ group MIGRANTE. Many of them are sick and still inside the embassy compound, seeking assistance for repatriation.
“Staff nurses from the AVICENNA Clinic and Magrabi Hospital in Riyadh intended to conduct a medical mission on Friday, but the embassy’s administrative officer Mohamad Taha Guinomla rejected the request,” MIGRANTE said.
On Monday, a letter jointly signed by the chairpersons of MIGRANTE and Gabriela Women’s Party Chapters in Saudi Arabia was sent to Ambassador Ezzadin H. Tago requesting the holding of a medical mission for the Filipinos who have camped inside the embassy compound.
“We regret that we are unable to accommodate your request for a medical mission for the OFWs inside the embassy premises,” Guinomla replied in his letter. He said non-embassy personnel are not allowed to enter the premises for security reasons but that “we are always ready to extend medical assistance to distressed OFWs and transport them to hospitals should they require such assistance.”
John Monterona, a vice chairperson and Middle-East regional coordinator of MIGRANTE, said: “We aim to provide the medical needs of stranded OFWs who have been inside the embassy compound since May 4. Some campers reported that the embassy is not providing them food, water, medicine and sanitation.” Monterona noted that Ambassador Tago ordered his staff to cut electricity and water lines where the stranded OFWs were staying on the second day of their arrival. “The embassy is supposedly the most secure place for stranded, distressed and abused OFWs, yet we don't understand why Ambassador Tago is forcing stranded OFWs to leave the embassy compound. They want a sanctuary inside the embassy while awaiting the assurance and action of the embassy for their repatriation,” he said. Monterona said that the number of stranded OFWs in Saudi Arabia seeking assistance for repatriation has surged to 7,500 and is expected to reach around 12,000.