Consulate General of the Republic of the Philippines

in Jeddah

 



Press Release No. 2010/005
Date: 3 February 2010

Warning Against Fixers Claiming to Help with

Deportation or Repatriation

The Philippine Consulate General in Jeddah reiterates its warning to

the public not to believe rumors that overstayers can leave the Kingdom
through a “backdoor” in Jeddah, or to believe anyone who claims that they
can assist or facilitate departure out of the Kingdom through contacts at the
Passports Department or Jawazat.

Figure
1
Arnulfo
Sandoval

Manongdo
AKA
Arnold
Garcia Figure
2
Amer
Cruz
not
his
real
name

The Philippine Consulate General in Jeddah recently received the

complaints of 9 Filipinos who came to Jeddah from different cities. They
claimed in a signed and notarized affidavit that a certain Amer Cruz said he
had a contact named Arnold Garcia who has friends in Jawazat [or the
passports department] that can facilitate the repatriation of the 9 Filipinos
without going through deportation procedures for a fee of SR3000 for each
Filipino.

The 9 filipinos paid amounts ranging from 1500 to 2500 Saudi Riyals
each to Amer Cruz. Unfortunately, after taking the money, Arnold Garcia
and Arnel Alcantara could no longer be contacted. They recently saw this
P.O.
BOX
:
4794
Jeddah
–
21412,
Saudi
Arabia

Tel.
No.
:
+966
(02)6696303/6670925
Fax
No.
:
6696797

Website:
www.pcgjeddah.com



 Consulate General of the Republic of the Philippines
in Jeddah

 



person in Corniche mall but he avoided them and left. The total amount
that the fixers took from the 9 Filipinos totaled SR24,500.

The 9 filipinos have discovered that the true identity of this Arnold
Garcia is ARNULFO SANDOVAL MANONGDO, with an iqama issued in
Riyadh under the sponsorship of Al-Safari limited and his occupation in his
iqama is window cleaner.

The Consulate noted that many of the “fixers” claim they have strong
contacts in the Consulate or Jawazat. Some Filipino victims have reported
that they have dealt with “fixers” at Sarawat or Corniche mall.

The Consulate strongly urges all Filipinos not to deal with such
personalities, and to deal directly with the Consulate’s Labor Section or
Assistance to Nationals Section within the premises of the Consulate building
at Rehab District. If anyone claims to work with the Consulate, we urge you
to demand to see his iqama or ID issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The Philippine Consulate General reiterates that it has not received any
official statement or advice from the Saudi Government on the possibility of
amnesty for overstayers, absconding workers, and violators of the iqama
and residency rules of the Kingdom.

In a statement published in the Saudi Gazette issue of 20 January

2010, Brig. Gen. Salem Bakheet Al-Zahrani, Director of Passports
Department in Makkah Region, said that:

• “There is no move to provide residential permits to overstayers. These

are only rumors, there is no substance to it.”
• Al-Zahrani warned that overstayers should go back to their countries
at the earliest or face penalties and jail sentences.
• Al-Zahrani said fingerprinting and eye-scanning systems are working
well and have greatly reduced the problem of overstaying.

The Consulate urges all Filipinos and community organizations to advise

their friends and relatives on this matter.

P.O.
BOX
:
4794
Jeddah
–
21412,
Saudi
Arabia

Tel.
No.
:
+966
(02)6696303/6670925
Fax
No.
:
6696797

Website:
www.pcgjeddah.com