five year old Nemesio Valencia yesterday boarded a flight to Manila from Riyadh accompanied by the embassy staff, following efforts by the Philippine Embassy in Riyadh and Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) in securing his exit visa and his flight back home. Valencia arrived in the Kingdom in 1989 and absconded from his employer after three years of employment. The Philippine Embassy in Riyadh paid his immigration penalties of SR 8,000 and provided for his airfare back home. Payment for immigration penalties incurred by Valencia after a decade of illegally working in the Kingdom was sourced from the DFA's Assistance to Nationals (ATN) Funds. Valencia thanked the officers and staff of the Philippine Embassy in Riyadh and the POLO in Riyadh for their assistance. Before boarding his flight, Valencia said he wanted to thank Ambassador Tago and the embassy for their help. He said he couldn't wait to see his family in Batangas. Philippine Ambassador to Riyadh Ezzedin H. Tago wished Valencia and his family a warm reunion on his homecoming. “After twenty-years of being away, Valencia will now be reunited with his family,” said Ambassador Tago.
