Help sought for comatose Pinoy bike mechanic in Dubai

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates  — A 39-year-old overseas Filipino worker (OFW) here is in a coma following a recent heart attack, in bed on a life support with his wife praying for a miracle.

"Ang dami naming pangarap [We still have a lot of dreams]," said 34-year-old Irene Asis Cabrito, who flew in to Dubai on May 20 through assistance from the Philippine Consulate General (PCG), to be with her husband, Joey Mendoza Cabrito, a bicycle mechanic.

"Sabi po ng doctor zero percent po ang chances [The doctor said chances are zero percent]," added Irene.

The couple have been together for over 15 years, according to Irene. They have two children – a five-year-old boy and a three-year-old girl.

Consul General Paul Raymund Cortes, head of the Philippine mission in Dubai  who also helped facilitate documents for Irene’s travel to the city, said the matter has been referred to PCG’s Assistance to Nationals (ATN) section.

"We issued certification to the wife so that she could come here," he told GMA News Online.

A good person

Nicole Balgemino, also an OFW and Joey’s friend, said doctors told them that Joey is already brain dead.

"Wala na raw pong maibigay na chance kahit one percent. Hindi na raw nagre-respond [They said Joey is no longer responding, that he doesn't even have a one-percent chance of making it]," she said, adding that doctors could not take Joey off the ventilator as it is against the law.

She described Joey as a kind person.

"Wala po kaming masabi sa kaniya. Mabait na tao siya. Nagpapayo at masayahin, gusto niyang magpasaya ng tao.  Kung ano man ang puwede niyang maitulong, tumutulong siya. Hindi siya maramot. At wala siyang bisyo," said Balgemino.

(He's a good person. He likes giving advice and is always happy. He likes to make everyone around him happy. He is also helpful and generous, and doesn't have any vice.)

Engr. Frankie Boton, chair of a Dubai-based cycling group who is also part of Joey's circle of friends, said the OFW's membership with Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) has expired.

"Wala na rin po siyang makukuhang sahod kasi nag-resign na siya sa company niya at lilipat na lang sana nitong katapusan. Nakuha na po ang final accounts niya at yun ang dinagdagan para sa ticket at visa ng misis nya papunta dito," Boton said.

(He can no longer get a salary because he has resigned from his old job and was about to move to a new one soon. He got his final accounts and that was used for the ticket and visa of his wife.)

He said Joey was officially still with the company until the end of May this year.

Mounting bills

It was learned that as of press time, hospital bills have reached AED268,000 -- way over insurance coverage, according to  Balgemino.

"Kung may mga taong may mabubuting kalooban at gustong tumulong, makipag-ugnayan na lang po sa misis ni Joey. Namumrublema po siya kung paano i-settle ang bills,” she added.

(If anyone wants to help, please reach out to Joey's wife. She is having problems on how to settle the hospital bills.)

Fellow OFWs across the UAE have been passing the hat, it was gathered.

Irene Cabrito said she can be reached on her phone at +971 054 750 7012. Her husband's heart attack happened on May 7 and he has been in come since. --KBK, GMA News