Several Hajj pilgrims stranded in Manila despite paying for travel arrangements

Several Filipino Hajj pilgrims who paid over P300,000 for their travel arrangements to Saudi Arabia were still not able to fly out because of a visa issue.

According to Nico Waje’s report on “24 Oras Weekend”, most of the pilgrims were from Zamboanga.

This year’s pilgrimage is set to begin on July 7 until July 12.

Their flight was scheduled for June 20 and 21 but they were stranded at a hotel in Manila.

“The reason is accordingly na-close ‘yung system ‘yung pagpunta ng visa. Sabi nila, na-delay ang payment,” Sheikh Abdulwakil Tanjilil said.

(The reason is that the visa system had been closed. They said the payment was delayed.)

However, the pilgrims said their visas and accommodations in Saudi Arabia had been fully paid as early as May.

The National Commission on Muslim Filipinos processed all the requirements of the pilgrims and their visas were issued last Thursday.

However, they still do not have a plane ticket and could not get an answer from the NCMF.

“Ang Hajj talaga ay one of the Pillars of Islam. It is your obligation and your duty,” Tanjijil said.

“Sa mga retirement nila o di kaya may anak sila sa abroad doon nagtatrabaho, nurse ganoon. Iniipon-ipon ng kanilang mga anak pagkatapos pinadala dito… pagkatapos ginawa pa ganito ang nangyari sa amin,” Abdulfatta Alilul khalulullah, one of the stranded Filipino Muslims, added.

(They used their retirement money or maybe they have a child abroad working there, like a nurse. Their children saved up and after sending the money here… this is what happened to us.)

NCMF Spokesperson Commissioner Yusoph Mando explained that there was a problem in releasing the visas.

“Na-stop yung pag-release ng visa mula sa Ministry of Hajj ng Saudi Arabia. Nag-close iyong portal due to miscommunication sa system ng payment, na-stop iyong release (ng visa) kaya mga ilang flight po ang hindi nakalipad,” explained Mando.

(The release of the visas from Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Hajj was stalled. The portal closed due to miscommunication in the payment system, and the release [of the visas] was stopped so some flights were canceled.)

“Gumagawa na kami ng paraan ngayon, ang management crisis ng pagka-stranded, sa pamumuno ni Sec. Guilling Mamodiong. Makikipag-usap siya sa Saudi Airlines. Nakausap na rin po niya iyong ambassador ng Saudi Arabia to the Philippines at positive naman ang resulta ng pag-uusap,” he added.

(We're trying to resolve this, the management crisis of stranded pilgrims under the leadership of Sec. Guilling Mamodiong.  He will talk to Saudi Airlines. He had also spoken with Saudi Arabia's ambassador to the Philippines and the result of the conversation was positive.)

He noted that NCMF also wrote to the King of Saudi Arabia asking Saudi Airlines to have extra flights.

Moreover, Mando said they would pay for the hotel accommodations and food expenses of the stranded pilgrims. — Mel Matthew Doctor/DVM, GMA News