SPMUDA mobilizes support for accident-hit Filipino worker
Riyadh: Abdul Hannan Tago The head of the international NGO Southern Philippines Muslims and Non- Muslim Unity and Development Association (SPMUDA) has launched a humanitarian mission and assistance program to help a Filipino worker who suffered a serious accident in Jeddah after receiving a request from the victim’s relatives in the Philippine province of Abra.
In his letter, Datu Camad Ali, founding chairman and executive president of the NGO, said: "We are hereby requesting a joint coordinated assistance on behalf of Mr. Alfredo Salmos."
He urged his contacts in the country to coordinate with the DFA, Philippine Embassy, OWWA officials and other government and private organizations in the Kingdom who could render assistance. “Please coordinate with DFA and the Philippine Embassy until we finally bring him home,” Ali added.
According to an appeal on social networking sites, 52- year- old Salmos suffered an electrical accident while at work two years ago. He had been in a coma until last month. The appeal said the victim has no family to take care of him in Jeddah and no job to sustain him.
Arab News contacted the Philippine Ambassador to Riyadh Ezzedin H. Tago to shed more light on the issue. Tago expressed sympathy for the victim.
"I share with everyone the sympathies expressed for Mr. Salmos. We are of course happy and thank the Almighty that his medical condition has improved compared to two years ago when he was in a coma,” he said. “I have asked the Philippine Consulate in Jeddah under Consul General Uriel Norman Garibay to work closely with the employer and the authorities concerned to help Mr. Salmos so he could be granted the required clearance and final exit.”
He stated that the consulate would bring this matter to the higher authorities as soon as possible.
Ali said Salmos is seeking help and assistance so he could go home to be with his family. He also wrote a letter to the Philippine President Benigno Aquino on the matter. “Our countrymen from the province of Abra requested our office to make representations to your office about the sad predicament of one of the OFWS who suffered an electrical accident in Saudi Arabia,” Ali said in a letter to Aquino seen by Arab News.
SPMUDA International is a registered non-profit, non-stock and non-partisan NGO for peace, unity and development. It has branches in more than 193 countries represented by its volunteer goodwill ambassadors to link and collaborate understanding, friendship and cooperation on matters of mutual interest for the welfare and benefit of the poor and the needy.
It supports the 10 principles of the United Nations Global Compact with respect to human rights, labor environment, anti-corruption, Islamic reform awareness to ease bad impressions against Muslim and rebuild harmony between all religions.
The same appeal was made by various OFW organizations, including Migrante-middle East. The group has called on the Philippine government to immediately act to provide assistance to Salmos.
The Philippine Consulate in Jeddah issued its statement on the issue on May 3, stating that Salmos was brought to King Abdulaziz Hospital in October 2010 to have his injuries treated. He stayed there for months until he recovered.
The same statement said Salmos, formerly a fabricator for Siemens Ltd, is well enough to travel by air to the Philippines. He still has to recover from the ill effects of his accident, however.
In this state, he should be in the Philippines and being cared for by his family. Salmos, according to the statement, is not being issued the final exit visa for his repatriation.
However, his name appears in the Saudi immigration database as the owner of a Honda Accord 1981 model impounded 12 years ago. This record must be rectified, according to the statement. He also recorded to have left Siemens Ltd six months before he got electrocuted. Hence, the issuance of his final visa is further complicated by the need to have his expired residence card renewed and immigration fines after he left his employer settled.
The statement reaffirmed that all assistance is being extended to Salmos. In December 2011, it became apparent that he was on his way to a full recovery and will soon be fit to travel to the Philippines. The consulate general in Jeddah is closely coordinating with Siemens and efforts are under way to obtain him a final exit visa and to have him repatriated.