OFW killed in KSA was a volunteer firefighter

MANILA, Philippines - Ryan Fajardo, the 27-year-old overseas Filipino worker (OFW) who was killed by a joyride driver in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, used to be a volunteer firefighter in Manila, one of his former colleagues say. In an e-mail to GMANews.TV, the Manila-based firefighter who identified himself only as Bruce said Fajardo went to work in Saudi Arabia also as a firefighter only last year to help his family. “I know that guy. He has been a volunteer firefighter since 1998 here like me in the Philippines," said Bruce, who is a member of the San Andres Manila Volunteer Fire Brigade, Inc. Bruce asked for help for the family of Fajardo, saying that with the OFW’s death, they are now without a breadwinner. Fajardo was hit by a car while he was jogging with three others along a street in Taif, a highland city in Saudi Arabia’s western region, at about 10 a.m. last Thursday. The suspect, who was later caught, was accompanied by his father, revealing that he was actually still a minor. Fajardo was pronounced dead after two hours in the hospital because of internal hemorrhage. [See complete story on the accident here] OWWA's help It was not immediately known if Fajardo is an active member of the Overseas Workers’ Welfare Administration (OWWA), but advocacy group Migrante International on Thursday urged the government to extend the necessary help to his family. “Whether OFW Fajardo was an active member or not, the OWWA ought to extend the necessary assistance to his family," said John Leonard Monterona, regional coordinator of Migrante’s Middle East chapter. Only active OWWA members who paid a $25 fee are entitled to a P200,000 insurance should the OFW die abroad in an accident. “All OFWs, whether active OWWA members or not, should be entitled to the government aid since they are contributing much to keeping the local economy afloat through their regular remittance sent home," Monterona said. OWWA director Carmelina Velasquez told GMANews.TV that non-active members cannot expect the 200,000 insurance accorded to active members. But Velasquez said this does not mean the OWWA cannot help in other means. “We can assist them in the repatriation of the body as well as coordinate with the Department of Foreign Affairs’ legal wing to pursue the case if necessary," Velasquez said. Monterona had voiced his concern that the case against the Saudi suspect might not be pursued well unless there is proper representation from the Philippine Consulate there. This incident has prompted the Philippine Consulate General in Jeddah to issue a warning to all Filipinos to be careful while walking on the streets. Saudi Arabia has one of the highest records of traffic accidents, with a death rate of 21 per 100,000 people. In 2007, nearly 6,000 people died in traffic accidents. - with Mark Joseph Ubalde, GMANews.TV