More Pinoy pilgrims arrive in Saudi Arabia for Hajj

More Filipino pilgrims arrived in Saudi Arabia over the weekend for the yearly Hajj, a Saudi news site reported Sunday.

The Philippine Consulate in Jeddah said 36 pilgrims arrived in Jeddah Saturday while 100 more were expected to arrive Sunday, Arab News reported.

“At present, 6,336 Filipino pilgrims have already arrived and they are now in Makkah. We expect 400 more Filipinos to complete the Philippine quota of 6,700 pilgrims,” said Consul General Leo Tito Ausan.

Ausan said the 36 who arrived Saturday are in Makkah, and are staying at the Meridien Tower. The other pilgrims are to arrive daily until Sept. 24.

“So far, everything is going smoothly. The pilgrims are not encountering any problems and satisfied with the preparations undertaken by the Saudi Ministry of Hajj for this year’s pilgrimage,” added Vice Consul Rodney Jonas Sumague.

Sumague said National Commission on Muslim Filipinos head Yasmin Busran Lao is expected on Wednesday.

He added a team for Hajj assistance headed by NCMF’s regional director Malo Mananggiri arrived earlier. — Joel Locsin /LBG, GMA News