Illegal OFW comes home after 23 years

MANILA, Philippines - After spending 23 years in Saudi Arabia, most of it as an illegal overseas Filipino worker (OFW), 65-year-old Nemesio Valencia arrived in Manila yesterday.

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said Valencia was accompanied by a member of the Philippine embassy in Riyadh. His repatriation was arranged and facilitated by the embassy and the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO).

Valencia arrived in Saudi Arabia in 1989 and absconded from his employer after three years of employment. ABS-CBN said he left his employer because of his mounting debt as a taxi driver. He has since worked in Saudi Arabia illegally, and has been living on a couch in an apartment for the past year.

The DFA paid his immigration penalties of SR8,000 (approximately P92,000) out of the agency’s assistance to nationals fund and shouldered his airfare to the Philippines.

Prior to his departure, Valencia was also brought to the hospital by the embassy staff for a medical checkup.

The OFW thanked the officers and staff of the embassy and POLO-Riyadh for the assistance.

 Ambassador to Riyadh Ezzedin Tago wished Valencia and his family, who live in Batangas, a warm reunion on his homecoming.