JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia (via PLDT)
– President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo ended her four-day state visit to the Kingdom of
Saudi Arabia with a big success marking another milestone in the Philippines’
international diplomacy.
"The success of the President’s visit
marks another milestone in international diplomacy which she has effectively used for
advancing our national interest," Press Secretary and Presidential Spokesman Ignacio
R. Bunye said.
Bunye made the assessment based on the outcome of
the President’s visit to the Kingdom especially to the mass pardon granted by the
Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud to more than 338
Filipino workers facing charges here.
As a result of this, 52 pardoned female workers
were scheduled to arrive today in Manila ferried by Gulf Air from Riyadh while another
batch of 287 is set to take their " flight for freedom" on May 14, also from
Riyadh.
The President left at the Royal Terminal of the
King Fahd International Airport at 10:40 last night and was expected to arrive in Manila
early afternoon today.
Aside from promoting the welfare of the overseas
Filipino workers, the President also convinced Saudi authorities to strengthen investment
partnerships between the two countries.(full story)
