MANILA— The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) is verifying reports that a Filipino worker was killed after Saudi air defenses intercepted a drone targeting a facility at Saudi Aramco’s Shaybah oil field in the kingdom’s Eastern Province.

OWWA Administrator Patricia Yvonne “PY” Caunan said Thursday that the agency was awaiting formal reports from Saudi authorities and the worker’s company representative before confirming the details.

“Nakatanggap ang Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) ng mga ulat hinggil sa pagkasawi umano ng isang Pilipino sa isang pag atake sa Saudi Arabia. Kasalukuyang hinihintay ng ahensya ang pormal na ulat mula sa mga awtoridad ng Saudi Arabia at sa kinatawan ng kumpanya upang makumpirma ang mga detalye ng insidente (The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) received reports regarding the alleged death of a Filipino in an attack in Saudi Arabia. The agency is currently awaiting the formal report from Saudi Arabian authorities and the company representative to confirm the details of the incident),” she said.

However, Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Energy confirmed that two people, a Filipino and a Nepali, were killed and two others, a Pakistani and an Indian, were injured by falling debris after air defenses intercepted the drone on Wednesday morning.

According to the Saudi Press Agency, citing an official from the ministry, the drone was attempting to target a processing facility at the Shaybah oil field.

The interception sparked a fire in a vehicle belonging to a contractor operating at the oil field, outside the facility’s perimeter. The incident did not affect operations, the ministry source said.

Relevant authorities responded to the incident and took the necessary measures, the source added, extending condolences to the families of the deceased and wishing the injured a speedy recovery.

Caunan said OWWA personnel in Saudi Arabia, together with the Department of Migrant Workers and the Philippine Embassy in Riyadh, were closely monitoring the situation.

She added that the agency was prepared to provide assistance and support to the worker’s family.

“Magbibigay ang OWWA ng karagdagang impormasyon matapos ang opisyal na beripikasyon, habang pinangangalagaan ang privacy at kapakanan ng pamilya (OWWA will provide additional information after the official verification, while safeguarding the privacy and welfare of the family),” Caunan said. (PNA)