A Filipino worker in Riyadh who went public with a desperate plea for help to return home has received a response from the Migrant Workers Office, hours after his story drew attention online.
Joseph De Guzman, 38, confirmed that an MWO Riyadh official identified as Sir Joseph contacted him following the circulation of his appeal. He said the office has committed to updating him as soon as his barcode — a reference to his exit visa processing status — yields a result. A medical check-up has also been scheduled for March 24.
De Guzman was diagnosed with anal fissure and internal piles at Amaluna Medical Center in Riyadh, with doctors noting he may require surgical intervention. He had been out of work for nearly two months when he posted his appeal on Facebook, describing daily bleeding and pain so severe he said it felt life-threatening. His employer had stopped responding to him, and his Iqama had lapsed without renewal.
In his update, De Guzman was careful to clarify his intentions. “Wala po akong ibang intensyon sa post ko kundi ang makauwi na ng Pinas dahil sa sitwasyon ko,” he said, pushing back against any suggestion that the post was made for reasons other than seeking medical repatriation.
He also defended the MWO, saying the office had been working on his behalf throughout the process. “Ginagawa rin naman po ng Polo/MWO yung lahat para matulungan ako at lahat din nito ay hindi lang proseso,” he said, adding that delays were a function of procedure rather than neglect.
His case had stalled partly because his employer refused to cooperate with his Final Exit Visa application — a requirement under Saudi labor regulations that can leave workers with expired residency documents effectively stranded when companies go unresponsive. The broader situation for OFWs in Saudi Arabia has grown more complicated since the Middle East conflict escalated in late February, with the MWO Riyadh handling a rising volume of distress cases from Filipino workers caught between uncooperative employers and a backlogged repatriation system.
De Guzman closed his update with gratitude to everyone who shared his post and helped it reach the right people. “Salamat po sa inyong lahat na nagpahatid ng aking mensahe sa mga kinauukulan,” he wrote.
