AN OVERSEAS Filipino worker (OFW), who has been cancer-stricken since 2015 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, arrived in Davao City on Monday afternoon, January 16.
The OFW was identified as Aristeo Morales Devilla, 55, a mechanic and yacht captain of the Juffaly Brothers Company in Jeddah, and is from Toril, Davao City.
Devilla was diagnosed with end-stage rectal cancer, stage 4, last 2015. He was medically treated at the King Abdulazi University Hospital in Jeddah before he was advised to return home.
Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (Owwa) regional director Eduardo Bellido said Devilla arrived in Davao City via Philippine Airlines (PAL) around 2:45 p.m. Monday.
Bellido said Devilla is with his wife Miraldina, who is a babysitter in Jeddah, and the couple arrived in Metro Manila from Jeddah on Sunday.
"He was endorsed to us by the Philippine Overseas Labor Office in Jeddah last Friday, January 13. After that, we prepared for their flight from Jeddah and arrival here in the city," Bellido said.
The Owwa repatriation team assisted Devilla during his arrival at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport and facilitated his flight to Davao International Airport.
Devilla was then brought to Brokenshire Hospital via Central 911 vehicle upon arrival.
Bellido said Devilla is entitled to avail the repatriation program and social benefits (in case something bad will happen to the worker) of the government since he is n active Owwa member since February 2016.
As of December 2016, the Owwa-Davao has provided airport assistance to 22 OFWs who were repatriated from the other countries to Philippines.