62 Filipinos repatriated from Riyadh, more expected in coming days

Sixty-two more Filipinos have been repatriated to the Philippines from Saudi Arabia following a three-week suspension of flights between Manila and Riyadh amid escalating tensions in the Middle East, the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) said on Saturday.

Previously, 512 Filipinos were repatriated from Riyadh after the three-week closure of King Khaled International Airport due to a deadly Houthi strike on October 10.

DMW Secretary Hans Cacdac said that while flights have resumed, they remain limited, making assistance crucial for Filipinos still in Riyadh.

“Kaya pinahatid namin yung 512 repatriates, madadagdagan yan tonight ng 62. Kasabay ko [sila] sa eroplano,” Cacdac said in a social media update by GMA News reporter Jaime Santos.

(Following the arrival of the first 512 repatriates, another 62 have arrived tonight. I traveled with them on the plane.)

“Sila ‘yung naantala kasi walang Riyadh to Manila [flights], ‘di ba? Three weeks ‘yan sarado ang Riyadh King Khaled International Airport at ‘yung nagbukas four days ago pero hindi ganap ang flights,” he added.

(They were delayed because there were no Riyadh-to-Manila flights. King Khaled International Airport was closed for three weeks, and although it reopened four days ago, flight operations are still not back to normal.)

Cacdac noted that around 500 more Filipinos are scheduled for repatriation over the next four to five days.

He added that the government is also assisting those whose flights were canceled and who are struggling to rebook.

Aside from flight assistance, financial aid was also distributed to Filipinos in Saudi Arabia.

According to the DMW, financial assistance has been extended to 3,900 individuals since October 10, of whom 3,700 are airport workers.

“Kasi nga ‘di ba sinara ‘yung airport so naaantala ‘yung trabaho. Airport and related sectors na doon sa airport. So ground crew, maintenance, duty-free [staff], mga concessionaires within the airport, flight attendants,” Cacdac said.

(Because the airport was temporarily closed, work was disrupted—affecting airport personnel and related sectors. This includes ground crew, maintenance workers, duty-free staff, airport concessionaires, and flight attendants.)

Cacdac added that government assistance for overseas Filipinos will continue, noting the administration’s priority to extend solidarity and service to overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).

The DMW chief also expressed gratitude to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, highlighting its coordination in ensuring the welfare and safety of Filipinos.

“Ganap na pasasalamat sa mahal na Hari, Royal Crown Prince, at sa pamahalaan ng Saudi Arabia kasi literal ang proteksyon. Nakailang beses na nagkaroon ng alarm don habang andon ako at… In fact, walang apektadong OFW sa mga alarms na nadanas namin habang andon kami for five days, wala walang nagalusan o nasaktan na OFW,” Cacdac said.

(We extend our deepest gratitude to the King, the Crown Prince, and the government of Saudi Arabia for their literal protection. While I was there for five days, there were several security alerts, but in fact, not a single OFW was affected, and no one was scratched or harmed during those alerts.)

Reporting on the October 10 Houthi strike at the Saudi airport, Reuters said that 12 people were killed in the incident, making it the “deadliest attack in the kingdom in more than a decade.” —Lyjah Tiffany Bonzo/ VAL, GMA News