DFA alarmed by attacks in Saudi

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) yesterday expressed “strong concern” over a spate of ballistic missile attacks targeting populated areas in Saudi Arabia in recent weeks.

In a statement, Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano said the Philippines is concerned over the attacks that could place the lives of innocent civilians, including the almost one million Filipinos working in the Middle Eastern country, “at serious risk.”

“The Philippines is thankful to Saudi Arabia for continuing to ensure the safety and security not only of its citizens but also of our countrymen there,” he added.

In a report to the DFA, Philippine Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Adnan Alonto said Saudi Arabian authorities were able to intercept a ballistic missile launched from Yemen that targeted a populated area in Riyadh.

The latest attack came a month after a similar missile was intercepted near the country’s international airport.

Cayetano expressed hope that Saudi’s conflict with Yemen would be resolved soon for the sake of regional peace and stability.

“It is our fervent hope and prayer that a solution be found to the conflict in Yemen so that we could help bring about peace and stability in the Arabian Peninsula,” he said.

Alonto, meanwhile, said the situation in Riyadh remains normal despite the attacks.

He assured Filipino workers in Saudi Arabia and their families in the Philippines that contingency plans are in place to ensure the embassy would be able to lead Filipinos to safety in case the situation escalates.

OFWs in Libya

Meanwhile, the DFA said it is monitoring the situation of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in Libya.

“Our OFWs in Libya face two natural difficulties: their safety and security, and their ability to send their earnings back to the Philippines,” the DFA said in a statement.

“Based on actual feedback from the few remaining Filipino workers in Libya, the required infrastructure and mechanisms for remitting their hard salaries are still in the offing,” it added.

The department said foreign currency is scarce in Libya, resulting in foreign workers losing out to uncontrollable economic and political forces.

“Prospective workers should carefully scrutinize private offers for employment in Libya,” it said, noting that there are illegal backdoor deployment schemes where workers are advised to travel first as tourists to other Asian cities to secure their Libyan working visas there.

“This is illegal recruitment, which is frowned upon by the Libyan government,” added the DFA.