First of all, I take this opportunity to express the outrage of the Philippine government and the Filipino people over this heinous act.  This attack on the U.S. Consulate in Jeddah signals a worrying shift in the tactics of extremists against foreign installations especially foreign missions that should be respected as a trust of friendship between the sending and the receiving state.

I have already instructed Philippine Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Bahnarim A. Guinomla and Consul General in Jeddah Pendosina Lomondot to extend all possible assistance to the two Filipino casualties, one perished and the other injured, during the extremist attacks on the U.S. Consulate in city of Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on the morning of Monday 06 November 2004.

On behalf of the Philippine government, I wish to express our sincerest condolences to the family of Romeo de la Rosa, who perished during the attack.  At the time of his unfortunate death, Mr. De La Rosa had already been working for the U.S. Consulate as maintenance man for 12 years already.

I have instructed Ambassador Guinomla and Consul General Lomondot to coordinate with the next of kin of the deceased and facilitate the immediate shipment of his remains back to the Philippines and arrange for whatever needs his next-of-kin may have.

I have also instructed the two Philippine Embassy officials to extend all possible assistance to Mr. Wenceslao Pescante, who was injured in various parts of his body, including shrapnel embedded on his knee.  I have been informed that Philippine Consulate officials are closely coordinating with the management of Dr. Soliman Fakeeh Hospital, which is just across the U.S. Consulate in Jeddah and is where Mr. Pescante is currently confined.

Following my instructions for the Philippine Consulate to arrange for a personal visitation with Mr. Pescante, Consul General Lomondot reported that he had visited the injured OFW and found him to be in good condition and high spirits.  The doctors also assured the Consul General that they are giving Mr. Pescante all the necessary and appropriate medical attention.

Consul General Pescante also informed me that the U.S. Consulate, the employer of the two OFWs, requested the media to respect the privacy of the relatives of Mr. de la Rosa and of Mr. Pescante in order of them to cope with this traumatic and difficult situation.

In light of these events in Jeddah, the Embassy and Consulate are coordinating with Filipino associations in Saudi Arabia on measures to ensure the safety of OFWs in that country. I wish to assure the OFWs that the Department, pursuant to its mandate, will exert every effort to ensure their safety. END
 
 

/jay