10 Pinoys caught fishing illegally in Saudi seek help
The 10 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who were caught fishing illegally in Saudi Arabia are asking the Philippine government to help them return home after their employer allegedly did not pay them their wages. Redentor Hubahib, one of the 10 fishermen stranded in Saudi Arabia for more than a year now, told GMA News Online in a long-distance telephone interview that they became unemployed after authorities caught them fishing illegally on Saudi seas in July last year. Felipe Batiancila, another fisherman, said they did not know that fishing with the use of an arrow was prohibited in Saudi. âSana nga nasabihan kami ânung nakaraang June [ânung pre-departure orientation seminar] na bawal pala ito para hindi na lang kami tumuloy," Batiancila told GMA News Online. After the fishermen were caught by Saudi authorities, âpinabayaan nalang kami ng employer namin," Hubahib said, adding that they were never placed under police custody. âMula noon, hindi na kami binigyan ng sweldo at pagkain ng employer namin," Hubahib also said, noting that they were offered a monthly salary of 1,500 Saudi riyals, roughly equivalent to P17,000. The other distressed fishermen who are part of the group are: