Saudis can’t link Pinoys to chopped body parts

The Saudi Arabian police could not link 10 detained Filipinos and their six missing compatriots to the chopped human body parts found in Southern Jeddah last April 4, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said yesterday.

Gilberto Asuque, DFA spokesman, said the Philippine consulate general in Jeddah is expected to send today an updated report on the case of the 10 Filipinos.

"It is coincidental that there were six missing Filipinos reported, and dismembered bodies were discovered, but it is not clear if the missing body parts belonged to the six missing Filipinos," he said.

"It has not been established. The investigation is still ongoing and the ten OFWs are still detained."

Foreign Affairs Undersecretary for Migrant Workers’ Affairs Esteban Conejos Jr. has instructed the Philippine consulate general in Jeddah to communicate with Saudi police regarding the arrest of the Filipinos.

The DFA said Consul General Pendosina Lomondot and other consulate officials in Jeddah met with Brig. Gen. Mohamad Al-Zainan of the Jeddah Central Police Directorate to inquire about the condition of the arrested Filipinos.

The consular officials also discussed with Al-Zainan the status of the arrest order, the investigation of the dismembered bodies, and the efforts to locate the six missing Filipinos.

In his report to the DFA, Lomondot said he asked Al-Zainan for a list of Filipinos arrested and to update the consulate on the charges they are facing.

Al-Zainan told Lomondot that Lt. Col. Abdulrahman Al-Malki, an intelligence police officer, will inform the consulate of developments in the investigation.

A consulate team also met with Dr. Col. Badr H. Shalhoub, chief security officer of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Diplomatic Missions, and chief of Diplomatic Security Force (Jeddah) to appeal for the release of some of the Filipinos to the custody of the consulate pending investigation.

Al-Malki informed Lomondot that his office was still investigating the case of the dismembered bodies, and the 10 Filipinos were detained for questioning.

Lomondot was not allowed to view the chopped body parts or to speak with the arrested Filipinos because Saudi law requires that in cases involving murder, persons are placed under solitary confinement for a period of 60 days, the consulate reported.

However, the intelligence officer assured that the investigation will be finished within seven to 10 days, and that those found innocent will be released immediately to the consulate.

The 10 Filipino workers in Jeddah were arrested last April 11.

The DFA did not disclose the names of the detained Filipinos.