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Saturday, January 29, 2005
Wife seeks probe of hubby's death in Riyadh
By Aurea A. Gerundio
DAVAO CITY -- The wife of the overseas Filipino worker from Digos, Davao del Sur, who was found dead at a hospital in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, asked the Philippine Embassy in Riyadh for an investigation on the death of her husband.
Amalia, wife of Suelito Leong, appealed to the Philippine government to help her find out what happened to her husband and the real cause of his death.
The Leong couple has three children: Keren, 17, a nursing student; Kim, 14, first year high school student; and Kevin, 10, a grade four pupil.
Earlier reports showed Leong figured in a vehicular accident in Riyadh. He was said to have died a day after he was reported missing on January 11.
Leong was positively identified by three of his co-workers at the Al-Imam hospital in Riyadh.
Leong, 40, reportedly worked as a power technician for Detecon al-Saudi for the past eight months. Amalia, however, said Leong had been working in Saudi Arabia since 1997.
The Philippine Embassy in Riyadh said Riyadh traffic police brought Leong to the hospital on the night of January 11 after a traffic accident.
"May natanggap kasi kami na balita na konti lang ang galos ng asawa ko. Nanawagan ako sa pamahalaan natin na imbestigahan kung ano talaga ang nangyari," Amalia said over television reports. (I heard reports that my husband only had few scratches from the accident. I am asking the government to investigate and found out what happened tot him.)
Amalia also sought the assistance of the Philippine government to bring home the remains of her husband.
Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) acting assistant secretary Walter Salmingo said they are already coordinating with the Philippine Embassy in Riyadh for the repatriation of the remains of Leong back to his home in Digos.
"We will ask the Philippine Embassy in Riyadh to help process the papers of Suelito Leong so we can immediately bring home his remains," Salmingo said.
Meanwhile, Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (Owwa) 11 chief Zenobia Caro said they are already preparing the monetary assistance for Leong's beneficiaries. Caro confirmed that Leong was an active Owwa member.
(January 29, 2005 issue)
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