Remains of Pinoy driver killed in Saudi blast still unidentified

MANILA, Philippines - The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) said yesterday that the Philippine government is exerting all effort to find the “missing” remains of the Filipino driver believed to be among the 22 people who died in a tanker explosion in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia recently.

“Our embassy and labor officials in Riyadh are still checking on other remains that have yet to be identified,” OWWA chief Carmelita Dimzon said while noting that Florentino Santiago most likely did not survive the accident.

“It’s possible that he died because if not, he would have turned up already,” Dimzon explained.

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) had earlier reported that the body previously identified as that of Santiago turned out to be a Syrian national.

According to the DFA, two bodies have yet to be identified and DNA tests will be conducted on both to confirm if one of them was Santiago.

Dimzon said the Philippine government has to defer the repatriation process until the remains of Santiago have been properly identified.

Meanwhile, Dimzon said Filipino driver Ruben Kebeng, who is being investigated by Saudi Arabian police in connection with the explosion, is in good condition.

“Our embassy and welfare officers were finally able to see him and he asked them to assure his family that he is doing fine,” she added.