Despite terrorism, remittances from the kingdom are vital for Manila's coffers
Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo wants the 800,000 Filipino workers in Saudi Arabia to stay put after three Filipinos were killed in the suspected al-Qaeda-led attack on an expatriate enclave.
Yesterday, Mrs Arroyo called on them to 'continue to work with their employers and host government to ensure their own safety and security'.
Surprisingly, her government's stand echoes the sentiment of Filipino workers there, including Jimuell Tarrosa who was shot in the leg by the terrorists in Saturday's attack on a compound accommodating expatriates.
His wife Divina took a harrowing phone call during the attack. 'He said he was all alone and that terrorists had assaulted them,' she said.
'When I asked him what I could do, the line suddenly died. I cried and cried.'
