‘Kabayan’ off to Riyadh for King Fahd’s funeral

Vice President Noli de Castro left yesterday for Riyadh to represent the country in paying its last respects to King Fahd of Saudi Arabia, who died Monday after a lingering illness.

De Castro, accompanied by his wife Arlene, was met by Ambassador Banhnarim Guinommla at the Riyadh International Airport and headed straight to the guesthouse of the family of King Fahd led by his half-brother and successor to the throne, Crown Prince Abdullah.

De Castro, who is also President Arroyo’s adviser on overseas Filipino workers’ affairs, paid tribute to King Fahd as a champion of skilled Filipinos, saying it was during his reign that better work opportunities had been made available to OFWs.

The earnings of OFWs in Saudi Arabia significantly contributed to the improvement of Philippine dollar reserves, the Vice President’s office noted.

The Vice President and his wife are expected to return to Manila this Friday.

A controversial monarch who ascended to the throne in 1982, King Fahd reigned for 20 years over a country that accounts for 25 percent of the world’s oil supply and is home to the important historic Muslim cities of Mecca and Medina.

King Fahd, who died at age 83, had been in the hospital since May 27 for acute pneumonia. He had a reputation as an administrator and international diplomat. — Pia Lee-Brago