OFWs in Saudi shooting mistaken for terrorists

**Monseratto** · February 28th, 2006 09:24 PM

Ang hirap maghanap ng trabaho tapos mamatay lang dahil sa isang pagkakamali. Mabuhay ang mga totoong bayani!!Ibagsak ang mga buwesit na politiko!!!

The five overseas Filipino workers shot by unidentified armed men in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Monday were mistaken for terrorists, ABS-CBN Middle East News Bureau reported Tuesday.

Bureau chief Dindo Amparo said that based on investigation, the armed men who opened fire at the victims are Saudi policemen.

The victims were on their way to work aboard a service vehicle when the shooting took place.

Two of the victims died while being treated at a hospital in Riyadh. The fatalities were identified as Abel Monterela and Felix Llorendo. The van's unidentified Indian driver was also killed in the incident.

The wounded Filipinos were named Rodel Miranda, Jimmy Factor and Salvador Bibon.

Police said they were conducting security operations when agents spotted the victims' van.

"A car that emerged from within the cordoned area did not respond to police warning calls and shots," said an interior ministry spokesman who was not identified.

The ministry spokesman said the Filipinos' vehicle did not stop as it came closer to the police agents. "They (police) were very suspicious of the vehicle. It was considered a threat."

However, a survivor said their vehicle stopped 50 meters from the police barricade but the agents fired at them without warning.

Police immediately opened the vehicle's doors and realized that the passengers are Filipinos. The victims were then taken to the hospital.

As of Tuesday, victims Factor and Miranda remained at the intensive care unit of the hospital in Riyadh. Doctors have declared Bibon out of immediate danger.

**team_PONGLAI_11** · February 28th, 2006 10:15 PM

kawawa naman sila condolences to the families of the victims and get well soon for those who are at the hospital. ang hirap talagang magtrabaho sa ibang bansa tapos ganyan pa mangyari. malaki pa naman ng naitutulong ng mga ofw sa economy ng bansa...

**jake1210** · February 28th, 2006 10:17 PM

hanggang may padala pang dolyares sa pinas mga EXPAT PINOY 'BAYANI' DAW and tawag... (sa PAPEL lang yun) MAY BAGO BA SA SISTEMA NG GOBYERNO? pag punta mo nga sa POEA para kang ordinaryong mamayan... mas SIGA pa nga GUWARDIYA doon, kahit saan sangay ng GOBYERNO... may PRIVELEDGE ba tayo?

Our prayers to the family of our co-expat pinoys.

EXPAT PINOYS... INGAT-INGAT NA LANG TAYO.

**falken** · February 28th, 2006 10:18 PM

Condolence to the victims, may they rest in peace. Kakalungkot naman ang nangyari.

**NightRock** · February 28th, 2006 10:55 PM

Ano kayang makukuhang benefits ng mga yan sa OWWA???? baka 100T lang ganon na lang ka mura ang buhay nila hayyyyy..pag minamalas talaga ang tao

**team_PONGLAI_11** · February 28th, 2006 10:57 PM

hopefully matulungan agad ng gov't ang mga families ng mga ofw sa Saudi na naging victim para naman mabigyan agad ng Justice or what ever na tulong na nararapat para sa mga kasama nating OFWs. sana wag na naman pasukan ng mga politico ang pangyayaring ito. TULONG po ang kailangan.

**ranod55** · February 28th, 2006 11:08 PM

noon araw na-nasa SAUDI ako eh isa 'yan sa arabs na country na masasabi natin na ligtas ka at tahimik,dahil nga sa batas nila na mahigpit at naandyan ang holy city nang mga MUSLIM-ang "MECCA".pero ngayon tila kabaligtaran na ang nanagyari,parang mas-delikado pa kaysa sa atin!

kawawa naman,kapwa ko rin OFW na umalis sa atin para maki-pag sapalaran upang maka-ahon sa kahirapan,tapos sa isang pag kakamali ay biglang mag lalaho