Press Release
November 17, 2014

Villar, Ople Center assists OFW to be reunited with Family vows to help repatriated OFW 'left for dead' in Saudi desert

An overseas Filipino worker (OFW) was successfully reunited with his family Friday night following a tragedy that befell him while working in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia thanks to the assistance of Senator Cynthia A. Villar.

Max (not his real name), a native of Bukidnon, returned to the Philippines after being hospitalized at Saudi German Hospital for six months after being assaulted and left for dead by five men in a Saudi desert last May 16, 2014. The victim fell into comatose upon arriving in the hospital.

Max's ordeal was brought to the Blas Ople Policy Center and Training Institute led by Ms. Susan Ople which coordinated with the Office of Senator Cynthia A. Villar to address to his hospitalization and repatriation.

Villar and the Ople Center met the family and helped them arrange meetings with Department of Foreign Affairs officials (DFA) and other key government officials.

The senator urged the DFA Office of the Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs to closely monitor the case. During the Senate Finance's committee hearings on the DFA's proposed budget, she also quizzed DFA officials on the actions taken to help Max.

Last October 30, DFA reported to Villar that the victim's insurance claim for the SR200,000 or Php2.5 million for the hospital expenses incurred due to the series of surgeries was denied since it was filed later than the period prescribed in their regulations.

With Villar's support, Philippine Ambassador to Saudi Arabia and Yemen Ezzedin Tago successfully negotiated with the hospital for a 30 percent discount on the bill. The hospital also agreed to discharge Max upon receipt of a Guarantee Letter from the Philippine Government.

The victim was finally reunited with his family Friday night and immediately went to see Villar at the Heritage Hotel in Pasay City, where the senator has an event. They personally thanked the senator who intervened and monitored the case to ensure appropriate and timely government actions. They also expressed their gratitude to the Ople Center and the DFA.

Villar said she's happy that Max was finally home with his family and vowed to continue helping him and other OFWs to ensure their protection in foreign lands.

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