Most Filipinos get into trouble and end up in jail not because of their ignorance of the Saudi laws, but because of their attitude that by trying to engage into illegal activities they could somehow get away from the long arms of the law. Offenses related to liquor (like drinking, selling or smuggling), and immorality (such as prostitution and pornography), are publicly and openly known to be violations of the Saudi law. Yet, many Filipinos are jailed because of these two offenses. “It should be a continuous effort, not only on the part of the Philippine Embassy and the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) but also upon community leaders and the enlightened members of the community to remind, tell and educate their compatriots that they are putting at risk their future and those of their family back home if they continue to take chances in engaging in illegal activities,” said Labor Attache David Des T. Dicang. He was the keynote speaker at the workshop, called Train the Leaders, organized by the All-Filipino Community and Sports Commission (AFSCOM) for the Filipino community in Eastern Province held last weekend. Dicang explained the salient features of the new Saudi labor laws and guided Filipino leaders during the discussions into the step-by-step approach and ways they should follow in helping Filipinos who get into trouble. The number of Filipinos detained in various jails throughout Kingdom has remained constant and in vicious cycle. The offenses, like violations related to liquor, drugs, theft, immorality, embezzlement and murder are the usual misdeeds. “Though most know they are violating the laws, it is bestowed upon community leaders and those knowledgeable about the law to constantly remind this sector of the community to mend their ways,” Dicang said. In the Eastern Province, for example, of the 64 Filipinos who are currently serving jail terms in Dammam, Jubail, Thogbah, Hofuf, and Qatif, 13 are imprisoned for offenses related to liquor and also 13 for prostitution and pornography. “Those jailed for liquor violations were either convicted of smuggling, selling or drinking,” Dicang said. Drugs and theft come next among the frequent kind of offenses. Drug smuggling is very common violation (sometimes coursed through the post), while theft of properties, like stealing scrap metals and rolls of high voltage of electrical wires, has recently become common. For example, five Filipinos employed by a construction company were arrested for selling scrap metals and rolls of electrical wires being used by their company in its projects in Ras Tanura. The rest of the 64 Filipinos detained in Eastern Province are serving terms for embezzlement and murder. One Filipina is now serving three years jail term for embezzling SR137,000.
