PHL Embassy joins Muslim OFWs in Saudi in prayer as Ramadan starts

Philippine officials in Saudi Arabia joined Muslim overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) there in prayer as the holy month of Ramadan started on Monday. The Philippine Embassy, in a message to Filipinos in the Kingdom, urged them to take part in the iftar (evening meal) and Quran Memorization Contest. "We pray that Allah the Almighty accept our fasting, forgive our sins, and bless us all during Ramadan, and throughout the year, with His forgiveness, mercy, and peace, and bring us all closer to Him and to each other," the embassy said in its message. "We are assured that non-Muslim Filipinos in the Kingdom are aware of fasting and other practices during Ramadhan, and will join the spirit of Ramadhan especially in public," it said. Royal clemency Meanwhile, an OFW advocacy group urged the Philippine embassy in the Kingdom and other Muslim countries to prepare lists of OFW inmates who may be granted royal clemency. “We are urging the Philippine embassy, not only in Saudi Arabia but as well as other Philippine posts, to ready the lists of OFW inmates in various jails who committed petty crimes in anticipation that the host governments will grant clemency to petty crimes offenders without private rights liability," said Migrante Middle East. Migrante Middle East coordinator John Monterona cited Saudi Arabia, where King Abdullah grants clemency to petty offenders without private rights liability during Ramadan. Petty crimes involve offenses like illegal possession of liquor, gambling, "mixed" crowd, illicit affairs, and violating other culture-related laws. “There were a hundred of OFW inmates granted clemency and were eventually freed and deported in 2009 and 2010," he said. - VVP, GMA News