Pinoy beaten with baseball bats in Taiwan returns to PHL

The overseas Filipino worker (OFW) who was beaten up by local youths in his dormitory in Taichung, Taiwan on May 18 has returned to the Philippines.



According to the Tuesday newscast of “News to Go,” Joey de Leon was still in pain after sustaining bruises and a broken leg after the attack.

The incident happened as some Taiwanese citizens reportedly turned their anger on some Filipinos because of the fatal shooting of a Taiwanese fisherman at the Balintang Channel by Philippine Coast Guard authorities for alleged poaching on May 9.

The "News To Go" report said De Leon stayed for some days in a hospital in Taiwan after being injured.

He was assisted by the Philippine government in returning to the Philippines.

De Leon said he now wishes to stay in the country and start anew.

“Ang gusto ko hilingin sana yung sa livelihood for example makapagsimula ka ng hanap buhay dito [sa Pilipinas],” De Leon said.

The Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) earlier said De Leon allegedly agreed to settle the issue out of court after the five suspects were caught. 

According to TECO, both parties already agreed to a settlement of 120,000 HKD (roughly Php 636,000).

A photo sent by TECO showed De Leon shaking hands with the five suspects in the prosecutor's office seemingly showing that everything was okay between the two parties.

However, De Leon denied this and expressed his disappointment about TECO's statement. - Andrei Medina/VVP, GMA News