Photos released by OFW Join Force-Migrante and Migrante-Middle East to the Mindanao Examiner show the ailing Armando Gozum outside a mosque in Al-Khobar in Saudi Arabia.
MANILA (Mindanao Examiner / Oct. 17, 2012) – A Filipino worker, who ran away from his employer in Saudi Arabia due to unfair labor practice, is now suffering from renal disease and needs an immediate medical attention, the OFW Join Force-Migrante reported.
It said the ailing Filipino, Armando Gozum, 37, had jumped from one to another to be able to survive since fleeing from his employer in 2007 until he became sick, according to OFW Join Force-Migrante chairman Sonny Rivera and Jules Ragas.
Rivera, in a report to Migrante-Middle East, said Gozum, who is a native of Tarlac province, has been sleeping outside a mosque in Al-Khobar. His plight was reported by fellow Filipino workers to the Migrante.
John Leonard Monterona, regional coordinator of the Migrante-Middle East, said Rivera’s group dispatched a team in Al-Khobar and located the sick Filipino sleeping on a bench outside the mosque.
“The OJF-Migrante quick reaction team found OFW Gozum sleeping on a bench alongside a mosque in Al-Khobar. Gozum informed our colleague that he is suffering from kidney failure,” Monterona said.
Gozum also told Migrante that he sought assistance from Philippine Ambassador Ezzadin Tago, but got no help.
“For sure, Ambassador Tago has his own version of the story. But we are inclined to believe stories of our fellow OFWs on their deplorable conditions rather than the lies of Philippine Embassy and labor officials who are trying to cover up their own ineptitude and would not even mind lifting a hand to help the distressed and abused OFWs,” Monterona said.
Monterona urged the Philippines to look into the plight of Gozum and fix his papers so he can return home to his family.
“On our part, we will ask Overseas Workers Welfare Administrator Carmelita Dimzon to provide airfare ticket for OFW Gozum while awaiting his travel documents and issuance of exit clearance. We will work for his medication and repatriation,” Monterona said.
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