Bishop Ruperto Santos of Balanga expressed his sympathies with the families of two Filipino migrant workers who died in a gas explosion in Abu Dhabi on August 31.
The prelate, who is vice chairman of the Episcopal Commission on the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People, called for prayers for the families.
“We are praying for strength of their families to hold on to God and rise up from this tragic event,” said the prelate.
Bishop Santos noted that even as the country honored “heroes” on August 31 on National Heroes Day, “now we lost two [migrant workers] in line of their works.”
The Department of Foreign Affairs confirmed on Tuesday, September 2, that two Filipinos were killed in the gas explosion that ripped through a restaurant in Abu Dhabi.
“We see the difficulties and dangers they are into,” said the bishop. “So, the more we have to pray for them, appreciate their sacrifices and services, to protect themselves,” he added.
The prelate expressed his thanks to the Philippine Embassy in Abu Dhabi for helping and assisting the victims and their families.
“Let us always pray for our [migrant workers] and do always what is best for them,” said Bishop Santos.
The Philippine Overseas Labor Office in Abu Dhabi said a total of 10 Filipinos, including two children, figured in the deadly accident reportedly caused by a gas leak inside a restaurant along Airport Road.
The explosion instantly killed Clark Bacud Gasis, 39, an electrical draughtsman from Surigao del Sur, and Merriner Goc-ong Bertoces, 26, an employee of the restaurant from Negros Oriental.
The Philippine Labor department said the blast also injured eight other Filipinos, five of whom were already discharged from the hospital.
A total of 28 people including other nationals were involved in the deadly blast.
