MANILA - The Philippine’s Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Sunday said that Philippine officials in Saudi Arabia have asked the officials of the Middle East kingdom to investigate the death of a Filipino migrant worker inside a deportation center in Jeddah.

A DFA statement Sunday said that Philippine Consul General Ezzedin H. Tago has reported that the consulate has sent a formal communication asking for a probe on the death of Edward Cuano last August 16 while under custody at the deportation center.

Cuano was apprehended by Saudi police authorities on August 8 for violation of immigration laws and was brought to the deportation center for investigation, said the DFA statement. He allegedly suffered chest pains and died on August 16.

The DFA said it has informed Cuano’s family of his demise and were providing updates to them.

Migrante International Middle East chapter earlier reported the death of the OFW.

“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 was held at Cell No. 1 of the Haji Airport Deportation Center in Jeddah. Cell No. 1 reportedly consisted of 38 Filipinos, 13 of which were women and children.

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.

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.

President Arroyo meanwhile is set to visit the Middle East kingdom starting Monday.