60 Pinoys stranded in UAE over ticket deal

Some 60 Filipino expatriates in the United Arab Emirates found themselves stranded after buying airline tickets from a Filipina who fled to Canada with their money without issuing them their tickets. The Filipinos said they bought the tickets from the woman at Dh2,800 (P31,230) each, according to a report on Gulf News last Tuesday. The Gulf News report identified the woman only as C.R.H., adding the 60 Filipinos accused her of taking some Dh190,400 (P2.124 million) and leaving the UAE in November without issuing any valid tickets. It said the price was attractive since air tickets to the Philippines during the peak holiday season can cost Dh4,000 to 6,000 (P44,615 to 66,923). Normally such tickets would cost Dh2,000 to 3,000 (P22,307 to 33,461). "We weren’t planning on going home this Christmas but due to a family emergency, we had to. I bought the tickets for myself, my wife, and six-month-old child for Dh6,000 (P66,923)," said one of the victims. He said he trusted C.R.H. since his wife's colleagues had recommended her. According to him, C.R.H. told him she was trying to help her friends working at a prominent airline sell their "unused staff tickets." He said C.R.H. promised to give him and his family their tickets in the first week of December, but when he called last week, she could no longer be reached. “We later found out that she had fled the country. She emailed us saying she’s in Canada but will come back to settle her debt with us. But that’s of no use to us now, we have to fly this month,” he said. The duped Filipino has since bought another set of tickets, at Dh7,000 (P78,077). The Gulf News report quoted another victim, 39, a housewife who bought the ticket for her sister. “It was a direct flight for a lesser price. So naturally the offer was very tempting. Through her offer, we could save Dh500,” she said. Her friend also bought a ticket from C.R.H., saying she was planning to surprise her mother who is celebrating her 80th birthday this month. The report said many of the victims reported the incident to Dubai Police, but have been told there is little hope of further action since C.R.H. had already fled abroad. — LBG, GMA News