DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS 
P R E S S  R E L E A S E
www.dfa.gov.ph                                                                                           2330 Roxas Blvd., Pasay City, Philippines                                                                                 Tel. No. 834-4000 
SFA-AGR-023-06                                                                                                                                                                                                                             17 January 2006

PHILIPPINE EMBASSY, RIYADH REPORTS DEATH BY NATURAL CAUSES OF TWO FILIPINO HAJJ PILGRIMS IN JEDDAH

17January 2006 – Philippine Ambassador to Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), Bahnarim A. Guinomla reported to the Department of Foreign Affairs that two Filipino pilgrims of the Hajj – a 62 year old woman and a 44 year old woman from the southern Philippines – died by natural causes while performing the Hajj in Jeddah.

Ambassador Guinomla said the 62 year old woman died at the beginning of the Hajj in January 2006 while the 44 year old woman passed away in the morning of 16 January 2006 at the King Fahad Hospital in Jeddah.

The Ambassador had visited the hospital where he spoke with relatives of the deceased and with Dr. Ali Escallar, head of the Philippine medical team attending to the health of the pilgrims.  The Department is not disclosing the names of the deceased Hajj pilgrims in respect for the privacy of the bereaved families.

Dr. Escallar informed Ambassador Guinomla that the 44 year old woman was confined earlier at the Al Noor Hospital in Makkah for ten days. However, relatives later transferred her to the King Fahad hospital in Jeddah, which, according to Dr. Escallar, had arranged for her trip to Arafat, outside Makkah, to perform the Hajj.

Ambassador Guinomla has instructed Mr. Kim Guro, pilgrimage coordinator of the Philippine Consulate General in Jeddah, to assist the relatives in the speedy burial of the remains of the two Filipino Hajj pilgrims in the Holy City of Makkah.

The husbands of the late pilgrims were expected to give their permission for the burials  in Makkah.

Ambassador Guinomla reiterated that the two deaths of Filipino pilgrims to the Hajj were by natural causes and were not connected to the two tragedies – the building collapse near the Great Mosque in Makkah and the stampede at Mina – which occurred at this year’s Hajj pilgrimage.

The Ambassador, who continues to monitor the situation of Filipino pilgrims, was likewise informed by Dr. Escallar that the overall health condition of the pilgrims is satisfactory.

The Ambassador added that, so far, two groups of Filipino pilgrims have departed Saudi Arabia for Manila on board Saudi Arabian Airlines on 13 and 15 January 2006. The remaining pilgrims will be leaving the Kingdom in different groups until next month.  END
 

/jay