DMW arranges return of remains of Filipino worker killed after drone interception at Saudi oilfield

The DMW is arranging the repatriation of the remains of a Filipino worker who died after a drone targeting Saudi Aramco's Shaybah oilfield was intercepted on 21 October, and has urged OFWs to avoid military and oil facilities.

The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) is arranging the repatriation of the remains of a Filipino worker who died after a drone targeting a facility at Saudi Aramco's Shaybah oilfield was intercepted on 21 October, The Filipino Times reported. DMW Secretary Hans Leo J. Cacdac confirmed the death and said the department had reached out to the worker's bereaved family.

Cacdac said the DMW was coordinating with concerned authorities, the worker's company and co-workers to obtain further details about the incident. The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) has also contacted the family, while the Migrant Workers Office in Al Khobar is arranging legal and welfare assistance, including the repatriation of the remains and support for the family.

In an interview reported by The Filipino Times on 25 October, Cacdac said the agency was coordinating with the deceased worker's employer and the Saudi government to return the remains to the Philippines, and that the Philippine labour attaché had provided assistance to the family. No other Filipino casualties have been reported in the incident. The Manila Times reported that OWWA, the DMW and the Philippine Embassy in Riyadh were coordinating with Saudi authorities over the death.

Advice for Filipinos in Saudi Arabia

The DMW advised overseas Filipino workers in the kingdom to:

• avoid areas potentially affected by attacks, including military installations and oil facilities
• verify flight schedules with airlines before travelling
• refrain from taking or sharing photos and videos of security incidents in violation of Saudi regulations

Cacdac also urged Filipinos in Saudi Arabia and elsewhere in the Middle East to remain vigilant, follow local safety protocols and heed advisories from Philippine and host-country authorities.

"We are closely monitoring the situation and awaiting further reports from our counterparts on the ground. We are praying that no Filipino will be harmed and that it will remain that way," Cacdac said.

Travel and repatriation

There is no deployment ban for Saudi Arabia, but Cacdac advised Filipinos planning to travel there to wait for further advisories from the Philippine Embassy, noting that flights to Riyadh may be unavailable. The government is also assessing whether to raise the alert level in Saudi Arabia, The Filipino Times reported.

Repatriations of other workers are continuing. The Manila Times reported that 248 OFWs had returned from Saudi Arabia after another 49 workers arrived from Dammam on Friday, with 326 more scheduled to return on confirmed flights between 24 and 31 October. The paper also reported that the DMW and OWWA continue to monitor seven Filipinos injured in earlier incidents in Riyadh, none of whom is in critical condition.

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