The Philippine Embassy requested the public on Tuesday to be prudent about various postings on social media sites requesting assistance for Filipino expats.
Ambassador Ezzedin H. Tago said the postings are usually old and recycled. Other postings indicate telephone numbers not belonging to the person who allegedly is in need of help.
“If prior verification has been made regarding the legitimacy of the request, the best recourse is to send an email to [email protected] with the information and details so that the embassy can verify the need for assistance,” the Filipino envoy said.
He urged those posting messages on social media sites or sending emails to the embassy to verify the status of individuals allegedly in need of help. He added that sharing such postings on the internet or social media may not reach the embassy or the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) in Riyadh or Al-Khobar.
“In addition, the embassy strongly advises against any community leader taking action on their own to help fellow Filipinos without the knowledge or assistance of local authorities,” he said.
Earlier, the embassy received an email regarding an Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW), Gina Madamba Pastor, whose picture, contact number and request for assistance had been posted on a social media network for several months.
On May 25, 2003, the embassy called the contact number of Pastor in Qatif and was able to talk to the wife of the employer. The employer's wife said that Pastor had obtained a final exit visa and would leave the Kingdom on May 29, 2013.
On July 6, the embassy received the same posting by email and when the embassy called the employer, the latter’s wife said that Pastor had already left the Kingdom.
On July 21, the embassy again received an electronic email on the same posting which was circulating on social media. The embassy has also received similar recurring requests on various cases involving Filipinos.
Philippine Embassy cautions on social media sites postings
