Respect other nations’ customs, CBCP reminds OFWs

FILE: Bishop Ruperto Santos, chairman of the CBCP Commission on Migrants and Itinerant People. (Photo by ANALYN PERUCHO via CBCP news)

MANILA — The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines-Episcopal Commission for the Pastoral Care for Migrants and Itinerant People (CBCP-ECMI) on Monday appealed to overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) to observe proper decorum and respect the custom and traditions of their host countries.

“We appeal to our OFWs to be more cautious and careful especially when peace and quiet could be disturbed,” said Bishop Ruperto Santos, head of the CBCP-ECMI said in an interview.

The Bataan prelate issued the appeal following the arrest of 17 Filipino workers in a Halloween party in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia last week.

Santos, meanwhile, urged the government to assist the arrested Filipinos.

“Let us exhaust all means to assist and help our OFWs who accidentally got involved of just attending Halloween party. It was not their intentions, nor they were promoters,” Santos added.

Based on information from the Philippine Embassy in Riyadh, the arrest stemmed from a complaint by neighbors about the noise coming from the party, prompting them to report it to Saudi authorities.

Despite implementation of reforms in the conservative Muslim nation, Saudi Arabia strictly bans holding of events and gatherings without permission or those identified with other religions and implements segregation of men and women.

The Philippine Embassy has already advised OFWs to refrain from organizing or publicly holding non-Islamic celebrations in the kingdom.