Family seeks to visit driver jailed for Saudi truck blast

MANILA, Philippines - The family of a Filipino driver suspected of causing the deadly explosion in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia sought the government’s help for them to visit him in jail, Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) chief Carmelita Dimzon said yesterday.

She said Ruben Kebeng’s family, based in Baguio City, “asked if one or two of them could go to Saudi to personally talk to Ruben.”

Dimzon assured Kebeng’s family that she will relay their request to the Philippine embassy, noting that even embassy personnel have yet to talk to Kebeng.

Dimzon said the government would still have to secure visas for the members of the Kebeng family to visit Saudi Arabia. “I told the family, we want to see for ourselves first the development of the case because the government of Saudi Arabia may not grant visas for them,” she said.

Also during the meeting, Dimzon said Kebeng’s family expressed their sympathy and apologized to the family of Filipino driver Florentino Santiago, who was among those killed in the explosion.

Dimzon said OWWA is providing stress debriefing for Kebeng’s family and they are ready to extend skills training that could provide an alternative source of livelihood for the family.

Since Kebeng is an OWWA member, Dimzon said his two children may also avail of the agency’s scholarship program.