MANILA, Sept. 27 (PNA) — An official of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines-Episcopal Commission for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People (CBCP-ECMI) has expressed sympathy to the family of the Filipino who died together with over 750 other people in the Hajj tragedy in Mecca in Saudi Arabia on Sept. 24.
At the same time, Bishop Ruperto Santos, chairman of the CBCP–ECMI, offered prayers for the victim.
“In this moment of loss and time of sorrow, as Filipinos, we are one with the bereaved family. We offer our prayers. He died for and with his faith,” he said.
The Bataan prelate added, “And the Almighty on Whom we place our trust and hope will surely be merciful to him, to us.”
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has confirmed that one Filipino pilgrim died in the stampede.
The Philippine Consulate in Jeddah said that an estimated 8,000 Filipino Muslims joined the annual pilgrimage in the Holy City of Mecca. (PNA)