MikeLigalig.com

12/28/2007 | 07:21 PM

Five Filipino welfare labor officers stationed at the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) in Riyadh figured in a road accident outside of the city Thursday night (Manila time), the labor department said Friday.

In a statement on the labor department Web site (www.dole.gov.ph), labor secretary Arturo Brion identified the five as Leonardo Eugenio Jr., Jimmy Umag, Mario Agustin Menerio, Rene (not Jimmy as earlier reported) Literal and Taib Dumado.

Citing a report from Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA)
Administrator Marianito Roque, Brion said Eugenio and Taif sustained head injuries and were in serious condition.

An earlier dzBB report said they were confined at the intensive care unit of a military hospital.

The other victims sustained only minor injuries and may be sent to their living quarters in Riyadh soon, he said.

Brion assured the families of the injured personnel that full assistance will be extended to them in Riyadh.

He said the POLO staff are closely monitoring the condition of the injured personnel particularly Eugenio who is confined at the hospital's intensive care unit.

Brion said the five welfare officers were negotiating along the national highway in Hafr Al Batin, 700 kilometers from Riyadh, on their way to Al Jouf region to attend the anniversary celebration of Filipino community organization, Samahan ng Manggagawang Pilipino sa Kahilagaang Arabo, on board an Isuzu vehicle driven by Dumado when the left rear tires exploded.

The vehicle flipped over five times.

"We in the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) are deeply saddened by the accident that befell our personnel in Riyadh," Brion said adding "the incident underscores the unforeseen risks that labor officials and staff may encounter while delivering services to overseas Filipino workers onsite abroad."

"The incident, however, will not hinder our efforts in servicing the millions of OFWs abroad," Brion added.

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