Filipino whose wife died in the UK to be deported

MANILA, Philippines - A Filipino whose spouse was “unlawfully killed" in a 2004 UK medical operation has lost his battle to stay in Britain and will be deported, according to online news website, The Independent. In its letter of refusal, the UK’s Home Office said Arnel Cabrera had “not established a family life with his son in the United Kingdom." “As his son remains in the Philippines there are no insurmountable obstacles to his family life being continued overseas," said the Home Office, a UK government department responsible for security and order. Alex Rook, the solicitor who handled Cabrera’s case, described the decision as “absolutely dreadful." “If Arnel’s wife had not been killed, the family would be living happily here. I will be writing to the relevant Home Office ministers asking them to reconsider their decision," Rook said. Rook stressed that Cabrera’s wife, Mayra, was killed by one part of the government [the National Health Service], “then Arnel is told by another part of the government that he has to leave." Rook’s sentiments were shared by David Masters, the coroner who presided over the inquest. “This is extraordinary. In view of the verdict reached at the inquest I find it difficult to appreciate how the Home Office has reached this decision," said Masters. In an earlier statement, Cabrera said he is tired and has lost hope that he could ever find justice for his dead wife, who was wrongfully administered a potent anesthetic just after giving birth four years ago. Mayra, 30, died shortly after giving birth to Zachary on May 11, 2004 after a local anesthetic—administered into her lower spine to relieve labor pains—was wrongly injected into her arm. Since 2002, she has worked as a theater nurse at Great Western Hospital in Swindon, Wiltshire where she died from a heart attack two hours after giving birth to her and first baby. Since Mayra’s death, Arnel had been fighting deportation proceedings since his immigration status was predicated on his wife’s British employment. On May 13, Arnel is expected to board the flight back to the Philippines so that he can be reunited with his son Zachary who will be turning three on May 17. In a report, the 38-year-old father was quoted as saying that he is giving the Home Office until Tuesday to act on his request to remain in Britain. Once he reaches Manila, Arnel would have totally given up his dream to raise his son in Britain and work in the world’s sixth largest economy. “I have promised him a holiday on May 17 as a birthday treat which I am not prepared to cancel under any circumstances as I have missed his last three birthdays," Arnel said in a statement. - GMANews.TV