The Philippine Embassy in Riyadh is assisting an ailing 65-year-old Filipino in securing an exit visa for his immediate repatriation.On May 8, the embassy received reports of a certain Nemesio Valencia, who had presented himself at the Deportation Center in Riyadh and was requesting to be deported back to the Philippines. However, he was refused deportation by the authorities, as he was unable to provide information about his sponsor and had not obtained a release from the latter. According to Valencia, he had arrived in Saudi Arabia in 1989 and absconded from his sponsor after three years of employment. Since then, he had worked illegally until his Iqama (residence permit) expired in 2002. He only sought assistance from the embassy in May this year. The Philippine Embassy through representations with the Saudi Immigration authorities ascertained that Valencia had incurred a penalty of SR 8,000 for the non-renewal of his Iqama. On May 17, the embassy issued a guarantee letter addressed to the Saudi Immigration authorities for the immediate repatriation of Valencia, but unfortunately it was declined. The embassy then immediately sought assistance from the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) for the payment of not only Valencia's immigration penalties, but also for a plane ticket to the Philippines. On May 22, the embassy was authorized to pay Valencia's penalties which was sourced from DFA's Assistance to Nationals Fund. On May 27, the embassy and officials from the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) accompanied Valencia to the deportation office for fingerprinting. His exit visa will be issued once all the requirements are completed after which, Valencia will be allowed to go back home. All Filipinos in the Kingdom are reminded to immediately report any complaints to the embassy and the POLO Offices in the Kingdom, so that appropriate assistance may be extended, and if need be appropriate cases will be filed with the Saudi Labor Office.
