MANILA, April 20 (Xinhua) -- Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Thursday summoned Saudi Arabia's ambassador to the Philippines after the mass arrest of 52 Filipino workers in connection with a murder case in the kingdom.

    DFA Acting Secretary Rafael Seguis conveyed to the Saudi ambassador Mohammed Ameen Wali President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's concern over the mass arrest of the Filipinos, a spokesman said.

    Although there was no diplomatic protest, Seguis emphasized the importance of respecting the rights of the Filipinos. He also reminded the envoy that Philippine consular officials must be given access to the detained Filipinos in accordance with international law.

    Prior to the meeting, Philippine Consul Geberal Pendosina Lomondot, in a report to the home office in Manila, said 52 Filipinos, six of whom are women, were detained for questioning following the gruesome murders of unidentified persons, whose body parts were found inside black garbage plastic bags in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on April 4.

    Two Filipinos, who were among those arrested have allegedly admitted to killing three other Filipinos earlier reported as missing. They also implicated two of their compatriots as accessories, according to the consular's report.

    The DFA declined to identify the suspects and fatalities, but said all were males. It was also unknown if the dismembered human remains belong to that of the murdered Filipinos, Foreign Affairs spokesman Gilberto Asuque said.

    The Philippine Consulate in Jeddah has not yet established the motive behind the killings, Asuque added.

    The Saudi envoy Wali told reporters that all those involved in the case are Filipinos.

    Filipinos who were reported missing and believed killed by compatriots in Saudi Arabia were allegedly involved in illegal lottery, phone-card scams, liquor and prohibited drug trade, he said.

    Following the incident, Saudi authorities conducted a crackdownon nearly 100 Filipino workers, but freed the others who were found innocent. Enditem