MANILA - A Filipino migrant worker died inside the deportation center in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Migrante International Middle East chapter reported.

“We confirm na may namatay ngang OFW inside the Jeddah deportation center,” said John Leonard Monterona, regional coordinator of Migrante-ME.

Monterona said the OFW, only identified as “Edward,” was held at Cell No. 1 of the Haji Airport Deportation Center in Jeddah. Cell No. 1 reportedly consists of 38 Filipinos, 13 of which are women and children.

“But we are still establishing the details bakit ito namatay,” Monterona said. He added that the Philippine Consulate General in Jeddah declined to give any information regarding the OFW’s death.

Prior to the reported death, Monterona said they received information from Filipinos about their deplorable condition inside the deportation cell.

“OFW Calma de Andanan, one of the stranded OFWs at Cell No. 3, confirmed to me over a phone call that they are 51 in Cell No.3 and that they are still awaiting their repatriation as promised by the Philippine Consular office in Jeddah,” he said.

A text message from another stranded OFW in the deportation cell confirmed that one of them already died.

“Sobrang init at siksikan, hindi kami dito makakainom, lahat kami nagkaksakit, lagnat. Kahapon, may nag collapse sa amin. Kahit gamot ay walang bigay sa amin ang embassy,” the texter said.
 
Based from reports received by Migrante through their chapter in Jeddah, there are more than 200 Filipinos placed in different cells along with other nationalities at the deportation center.

They also received information that 14 OFWs held at Cell No. 14 got into a fight with foreign migrants because of food and other supplies.

“The 14 stranded OFWs inside cell no.14 got bruises and some complained of body contusions and pain due to the intense fist fight with other migrants inside their cell which in only about 8x8 meter room,” Monterona said.

Monterona called on the government to act on the cases of hundreds of OFWs languishing in deportation centers.

“Mrs. Arroyo should prove that her forthcoming visit to Saudi Arabia is not a junket trip by taking seriously the issue of worsening conditions of OFWs and by urging Mid-Eastern governments to signify the UN Convention for the Protection of Migrants and members of their families, and ink genuine rights protection mechanisms with counterpart governments hosting thousands of overseas Filipino workers,” Monterona said.