Press Release
February 18, 2009

Villar's OFW Helpline repatriates distressed OFWs
Waiter awaits sick wife's homecoming

A waiter does not have to wait long for her sick wife to come home with the repatriation tomorrow of his wife along with about 30 distressed overseas Filipino workers from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Roger Gemina, a waiter at the Manila Polo Club, had asked the help of Nacionalista Party President Sen. Manny Villar to bring his ailing wife home who is a domestic helper in Riyadh. He approached Villar during the celebration of the 35th anniversary of Ubix last week, where the former Senate president was the Guest of Honor.

"Kapag nagpupunta po rito si Senator, ako po ang laging naa-assign sa kanya. Alam ko po na tumutulong siya sa OFW kaya naglakas ako ng loob na hingan siya ng tulong para sa asawa ko na may sakit," Gemina said.

Gloria delos Santos, 41, is Gemina's common-law wife. They live in a makeshift house in Marilao, Bulacan with their five children. Neneng, by which she is also called, arrived in Riyadh on January 14. She also worked as a household service worker in Singapore and Japan.

Delos Santos recently incurred hernia after she was forced to lift pieces of heavy luggage to the third floor of her employer's house.

Gemina said his wife also complained about sleeping in the laundry area and not being able to eat on time. Delos Santos later fled and sought refuge in the Philippine embassy there.

Through Villar's intercession, a post-Valentine's Day reunion is now possible between Gemina and delos Santos. He instantly called up the OFW Helpline and directed her staff to help them.

"I asked my staff to make Neneng's immediate repatriation a priority because of her worsening health condition. Fortunately, she is included in the tentative list of distressed OFWs set for repatriation tomorrow," Villar said.

"Tuwang-tuwa po ako na makakauwi na ang asawa ko. Alalang-alala kami sa kalagayan niya doon," Gemina said.

About 30 undocumented OFWs who suffered maltreatment while working in Riyadh are scheduled to arrive in Manila on Thursday, 3 pm, via Qatar Airways Flight 646 through Villar's OFW Helpline 09174226800.

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