Gov’t offers to pay male Pinoy rape victim’s P3-M hospital bill in Saudi

The Philippine government has offered to shoulder the medical expenses of the alleged male Filipino rape victim, who has been held in a Saudi hospital for almost six months for his failure to pay an accumulated bill of nearly P3 million.
 

Department of Foreign Affairs spokesman Charles Jose said the Filipino’s employer refused to settle the medical bill which had delayed the employee's discharge from the hospital.   
 
The Philippine Embassy, Jose said, continued to negotiate with the Filipino’s employer for the payment of the hospital charges, but if the employer refused, the government “[would] consider releasing emergency funds to cover the bills.”
 
Jose said the Philippine Labor Office verification unit in Riyadh had been instructed to hold the processing of any employment document submitted by the Filipino’s recruitment agency pending payment of his hospital bills.
 
Normally, employers or sponsors are the ones that shoulder the medical expenses of their Filipino employee as stated in the labor contract, Jose explained.
 
Since the Filipino’s employer refused to pay the hospital bills, Jose said the Philippine government was inclined to elevate the case to the Saudi labor office for consultation and guidance.
 
The Filipino, whose identity was withheld by the DFA, said five young men attacked him on King Abdullah Road while he was on his way home in May.
 
His medical insurance company declined to pay his hospital expenses for his alleged failure to inform the firm of the incident.
 
Jose said his medical expenses ballooned to SR 250,000 because he was being billed for continued stay at the hospital.
 
Though the case is still under investigation, Jose said the Filipino conveyed to embassy representatives his request to be repatriated to the Philippines and that he does not intend to pursue the case.
 
“The DFA Office of Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs and our embassy in Riyadh in cooperation with concerned government agencies... are considering the release of emergency funds to cover the payment of (his) hospital bills to ensure that his desire to be repatriated is fulfilled,” Jose said.
 
Citing a report from the Philippine Embassy in Riyadh, Jose said  the Filipino was "in good condition and out of danger.”
 
The Philippine government said it was closely monitoring the case and assured that it was “fully committed to extend all the necessary assistance” to the victim and his family “for as long as possible.”
 
Oil-rich Saudi is a key destination for Filipinos in the Middle East, with an estimated one million workers employed mostly in the construction, household and medical sectors.
 
Dubbed as “modern-day heroes,” about 10 percent of the Philippines' 100 million Filipinos work abroad.  Although the earnings they send home help bolster domestic growth, working in various countries exposes them to abuses, wars and conflicts. —NB, GMA News

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