MANILA, Philippines -Not a single illegal overseas Filipino worker has been detained in the ongoing crackdown on undocumented laborers in Saudi Arabia, so far.
Vice President Jejomar Binay said on Tuesday that Saudi authorities have not detained any Filipino worker illegally staying in the oil-rich kingdom.
Binay, the Presidential Adviser on Overseas Filipino Workers Concerns, said the officials of the Philippine Embassy in Riyadh did not find Filipinos detained in police stations.
"The Philippine Embassy already sent a roving team to four police stations in Saudi and there are no confirmed reports of any arrest," Binay said.
He, however, pointed out that he asked the team from the Philippine embassy to widen its search.
He said roving team had visited police stations in Manfouha, Al Shifah, Aziziyah, and Dirah.
In his official Facebook account, Binay also said that "No Filipinos were also injured in last week's riot in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Those involved were mostly foreign workers from Africa."
He advised OFWs in Saudi to stay calm as their immediate repatriation is now being processed by the Philippine authorities .
"The embassy and the consulate continue to coordinate with the authorities for the processing of the final exit visas of those waiting to be repatriated," he said.