Palace: Pinoys in KSA who died of COVID-19 to be buried there

Filipinos who died in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia due to the COVID-19-related illnesses will be buried there while those who died for other reasons will be sent home to the Philippines, Malacañang said Sunday.

In a statement, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque, Jr. said Filipinos who succumbed to the coronavirus disease 2019 in Saudia Arabia will have to be buried there, in compliance with the country's customs.

"Per the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), the remains of the fifty (50) OFWs who died due to COVID-19 related illnesses will be buried in Saudi Arabia following the host country's local customs. The rest will be brought back to the Philippines," he said.

There have been a total of 282 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who died in Saudi Arabia.

The Palace said concerned government agencies have already been directed to extend assistance to their families.

"We offer our prayers to the deceased and to those they left behind," said Roque.

Locally, there have been a total of 29,400 confirmed COVID-19 cases as of Saturday, June 20, 2020. This includes 7,650 recoveries and 1,150 deaths. —Jon Viktor Cabuenas/LBG, GMA News