MANILA: The Philippine government is verifying reports suggesting that thousands of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in Najran city on the border of Saudi Arabia and war-torn Yemen are unsafe following the bombing of the area a few days ago by Yemeni rebels, Malacañang has said.
Susan Ople, president of the Blas Ople Policy Center, had earlier said that at least four OFWs have sought embassy assistance to leave Najran, reported Manila Times.
“The Center referred their appeals for help to the POEA (Philippine Overseas Employment Administration) for appropriate action. According to a worker, their employer has agreed to let them go provided that he is paid back all the recruitment costs,” Ople reportedly said.
Quezon doubts Ople’s report, however, saying that Malacañang is consulting with the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) “to get an independent verification published”, the report said.
Quoting information sourced from some workers from Najran, Ople added that about 5,000 Filipinos in the city in Southwestern Saudi Arabia near the border of Yemen have become vulnerable to the daily bombings which have increased from 15 to 80, including those carried out at nights as the Saudi Army and Yemeni rebels intensify their attacks.
She also reportedly urged the Philippine government to ban new hires from heading to Najran due to the city’s deteriorating security situation, the news report said.
She asked the DFA and the Department of Labor and Employment to provide assistance to four OFWs who are based in Najran and now seeking repatriation, Manila Times reported.
Ople reportedly added that their employer has agreed to let them go home to the Philippines on the condition that they reimburse the company $1,500 (PhP70,668) each to cover the cost of their recruitment.
