Report: 2 Pinoy Hajj pilgrims die in Saudi Arabia

The death of two pilgrims from Maguindanao marred this year's Hajj for Filipinos in Saudi Arabia, Philippine officials there said Thursday. Philippine Consul General Ezzedin Tago said there was no immediate report on the cause of the deaths of Zalika Usman Ali and Talusan Badpil. In an article posted Thursday on news site Arab News, Tago said the two died just after arrival in the Kingdom to perform Hajj. He said Ali died in Madinah, and Badpil died in Makkah. "There are approximately 4,100 Filipino pilgrims this year," said Abdurrahheym Macud, administrative officer of the Consulate General in Jeddah. Despite the deaths, Tago expressed his appreciation to the Kingdom for the elaborate preparations for Hajj. "The preparations have been thorough and elaborate so that the Haj performance this year for all the pilgrims, including Filipino Muslims, could be as comfortable as could be," he said from Makkah. He added that after Thursday, Filipino pilgrims will begin their return to the Philippines. Tago said most of the pilgrims are expected to attend a reception the Consulate General in Jeddah will host for them before they leave for the Philippines. — RSJ, GMANews.TV