Novo Ecijano dies in Jeddah while awaiting deportation

A 45-year-old Filipino worker who was abandoned by his employer died in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia three days after Christmas while awaiting his deportation to the Philippines. Simplicio “Boy" Sarangaya left Mayapyap Norte in Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija about 20 years ago to help provide for his family’s needs. He is a bachelor with a commerce degree from a university in Cabanatuan. After 10 years of working as executive secretary in a small company in Jeddah, Sarangaya died a penniless man. His employer who had claimed bankruptcy had abandoned him, according to his elder sister, Caridad Valencia who lives in Valenzuela City. “Gusto na talaga niyang umuwi kaya lang nanghihinayang siya sa maiiwang pera," Valencia said when interviewed on the phone. She was referring to Sarangaya’s compensation claims. Edgar Mendoza, Sarangaya’s best friend in Jeddah, has been seeking assistance for the immediate repatriation of his remains. Mendoza said Sarangaya fell ill two weeks after immigration police caught him and other Filipinos illegally staying in Jeddah. “He had a heart attack inside the deportation center and passed away after one week of confinement at King Abdulaziz Hospital," Mendoza said. Sarangaya’s remains are still at the hospital morgue. “Ayon sa mga doctor at Pinay nurses, si Boy ay maaaring maysakit na nang mapasok sa deportation cell at ito ay higit pang lumala dahil sa masamang kundisyon sa loob. Siya ay nagkaroon ng pneumonia (chest infection) at multiple organ failure," Mendoza said in an e-mail. Valencia said she went to the Department of Foreign Affairs on Thursday to seek assistance for the immediate repatriation of her brother’s remains. But the staff at the Assistance to Nationals office simply asked her to fill out a form for her contact details. “Wala pa raw ipino-forward ang consulate. Maghihintay pa raw sila ng report galing sa konsulado, at kapag napatunayan na patay na nga ang kapatid ko, tatawagan daw nila ako para pumunta doon ulit para sa requirements, at katunayan daw iyon na ako ang magke-claim ng body sa NAIA," Valencia told GMANews.TV. She said Sarangaya came home last in 2000. “Noong unang alis niya nakapagpapadala ‘yan sa amin ng tulong. Pero nitong mga huling taon, nagkaproblema sa amo n’ya kaya wala siyang pera. Mabuti nga at may kaibigan siya doon na tumutulong," Valencia narrated. Valencia said her brother could not find a stable job after his previous employment. He opted to stay in Jeddah in the hope that he could still claim his unpaid salaries. Mendoza said he has been coordinating with the Philippine consulate in Jeddah for the immediate repatriation of Sarangaya’s remains, but he was worried that the process would take long because of Sarangaya’s status there. “Si Boy ay biktima ng pag-abandona ng employer (na pinagsilbihan) nang mahigit 10 taon ngunit walang nakuha kahit kusing. Nawalan ng trabaho, nag expire ang dokumento, nahuli ng immigration police, nakulong, nagkasakit at namatay. Sa kasalukuyan ang kanyang labi ay nakalagak pa rin sa hospital at walang katiyakan kung kailan pa ito mapapauwi," Mendoza said. “Kung kayo’y may maitutulong sa madaliang pag-uwi na kanyang labi, ito’y labis naming pasasalamatan," he appealed. For any help, Mendoza can be reached through his mobile phone - +966502346231, office telephone at +966 2-6828219 extension 415 or e-mail him at ehdmendoza@gmail.com. Mendoza said he was hoping that what happened to Sarangaya would serve as a warning to other Filipinos illegally staying in Saudi Arabia. “Mag-ingat sapagkat ang pagpasok sa deportation ay hindi basta-basta. Marami sa aking mga nakapanayam at nakausap habang nasa loob at ‘yong mga nakauwi na ng Pinas galing deportation ang nagsasabi ng labis na hirap ng kundisyon sa loob. Marami ang nagkakasakit, lalo na ang mga bata," he said. - GMANews.TV