6 Pinays arrested in Riyadh Halloween party are 'food servers' —friend

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia — Six of the 19 Filipinos reportedly arrested during a raid on a Halloween party here over the weekend were "part timers" who were at the event as "food servers," a Filipino who knows two of the six said.

In an interview with GMA News, "Eddie" said the six are all women.

"Opo, yun po ay mga part timers lang po. Pagkakaalam ko po anim na Pinay po, yung dalawa po kilala ko at nakikita ko po dahil kaibigan po ng mga kasama namin, nagpupunta po yun sa bahay namin pag weekend kasi nagpa-part time po sila," he said.

Eddie said the six work as cleaners in a private company, adding they learned of the incident when the six did not report for work on Saturday. The raid on the party by Saudi authorities happened on Friday night.

He said the six's workmates are saddened by their arrest.

"Malungkot nga po sila kasi ang alam po nila pumunta lang po yun ng part time, yun lang po ang purpose nila kaya hindi nila alam kung bakit nagkaganoon, kung bakit sila kinuha," said Eddie.

Eddie said their employer has promised to assist the six.

In a separate interview, Consul General Christopher Patrcik Aro said there is no distinction between servers and participants in the party during the raid.

"Isipin na lang natin na kung kayo yung Thumama Police. Pumasok kayo duon at assuming lahat duon ay naka costume at assuming kahit server din naka-costume, so wala silang idea kung sino yung mga participant at sino yung nagtatrabaho para sa kanila," he said.

"Lahat kayo ay sangkot dito, so I don’t think na at this point in time ay may distinction kung sino yung participant at kung sino yung nagtatrabaho sa event," he added. —Ronaldo Concha/KBK, GMA News