Locsin inspects PH embassies in Oman and Saudi Arabia
Published Mar 1, 2020 12:00 am
By Roy Mabasa
Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin, Jr. had the opportunity to personally witness the situation of overseas Filipino workers in Saudi Arabia and to take a closer look at operations of the Philippine Embassy in Riyadh, days after he got infuriated by the death of an OFW in the northern part of that country.
Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit / MANILA BULLETIN)
According to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), Locsin was in Riyadh last week as part of the back-to-back official visits to Oman and Saudi Arabia where he met with his counterparts in both countries.
While in Riyadh, the DFA chief visited halfway shelters of the Embassy in Riyadh and the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO)-Riyadh for overseas Filipinos awaiting repatriation to the Philippines.
During the visit, he met with the shelter wards and visited their rooms to assess their conditions even as he assured them of the Philippine government’s continuing assistance.
Some 200 women and children staying in the shelters were given care packages and treated to lunch during Locsin’s visit.
“You will never be alone and the Philippine Government will extend all efforts to bring you back home safely, as promised by President Duterte,” the DFA quoted Locsin as saying.
Also in Riyadh, the country’s top diplomat attended the groundbreaking ceremony of a multi-purpose hall at the Embassy which, according to Ambassador Adnan Alonto, will serve as a venue for the expanding number of services provided to OFWs in the Kingdom.”
Prior to his Saudi Arabia visit, Locsin vented his ire on social media against the Embassy over its alleged failure to provide immediate assistance to OFW Nestor Magat who died on Feb. 19 in Al Jouf region after suffering from a stroke.
“Overtaken- meaning the one needing help DIED. As in DEAD - a condition that runs the gamut from mental to necrological to career-political or otherwise because I don’t make distinctions. Don't give a 's___' who is connected to who and how high up he is. There will be hell to pay,” the DFA secretary said in a tweet on Feb. 23, 2020.
Locsin’s tweet was triggered by an earlier post made by DFA Undersecretary for Civilian Security Brigido Dulay who expressed his “disappointment” over the death of Magat.
“Disappointed with Riyadh PE (Philippine Embassy). Failed to act promptly on Magat case until it was overtaken by events. Home office was not informed about it,” Dulay said in a tweet on Monday.
Dulay’s allegation was later debunked by Ambassador Alonto who even defended the actions taken by the Embassy upon learning of Magat’s case.
In a statement, Alonto said the Embassy and all its workers in foreign service “consider the protection and promotion of the welfare of overseas Filipinos as a top priority.”
Considering the hospital’s significant distance from Riyadh, Alonto argued that the Embassy did inform the DFA headquarters in Manila and in fact requested “funding and authority” to make a compassionate visit to the then-ailing OFW.“The purpose of the visit is to personally assess the medical condition of the OFWas well as to make arrangements for (a) possible repatriation once the OFW is declared medically fit for travel. Regrettably, the OFW was unable to recover from the coma,” Alonto stated.
Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit / MANILA BULLETIN)
According to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), Locsin was in Riyadh last week as part of the back-to-back official visits to Oman and Saudi Arabia where he met with his counterparts in both countries.
While in Riyadh, the DFA chief visited halfway shelters of the Embassy in Riyadh and the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO)-Riyadh for overseas Filipinos awaiting repatriation to the Philippines.
During the visit, he met with the shelter wards and visited their rooms to assess their conditions even as he assured them of the Philippine government’s continuing assistance.
Some 200 women and children staying in the shelters were given care packages and treated to lunch during Locsin’s visit.
“You will never be alone and the Philippine Government will extend all efforts to bring you back home safely, as promised by President Duterte,” the DFA quoted Locsin as saying.
Also in Riyadh, the country’s top diplomat attended the groundbreaking ceremony of a multi-purpose hall at the Embassy which, according to Ambassador Adnan Alonto, will serve as a venue for the expanding number of services provided to OFWs in the Kingdom.”
Prior to his Saudi Arabia visit, Locsin vented his ire on social media against the Embassy over its alleged failure to provide immediate assistance to OFW Nestor Magat who died on Feb. 19 in Al Jouf region after suffering from a stroke.
“Overtaken- meaning the one needing help DIED. As in DEAD - a condition that runs the gamut from mental to necrological to career-political or otherwise because I don’t make distinctions. Don't give a 's___' who is connected to who and how high up he is. There will be hell to pay,” the DFA secretary said in a tweet on Feb. 23, 2020.
Locsin’s tweet was triggered by an earlier post made by DFA Undersecretary for Civilian Security Brigido Dulay who expressed his “disappointment” over the death of Magat.
“Disappointed with Riyadh PE (Philippine Embassy). Failed to act promptly on Magat case until it was overtaken by events. Home office was not informed about it,” Dulay said in a tweet on Monday.
Dulay’s allegation was later debunked by Ambassador Alonto who even defended the actions taken by the Embassy upon learning of Magat’s case.
In a statement, Alonto said the Embassy and all its workers in foreign service “consider the protection and promotion of the welfare of overseas Filipinos as a top priority.”
Considering the hospital’s significant distance from Riyadh, Alonto argued that the Embassy did inform the DFA headquarters in Manila and in fact requested “funding and authority” to make a compassionate visit to the then-ailing OFW.“The purpose of the visit is to personally assess the medical condition of the OFWas well as to make arrangements for (a) possible repatriation once the OFW is declared medically fit for travel. Regrettably, the OFW was unable to recover from the coma,” Alonto stated.