Ronaldo Z. Concha Saudi Gazette JEDDAH — An ailing Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) in Jeddah who was longing to go home to see his family before his time was up died without fulfilling his last wish. Aguido Lazaro, 62, died on Oct. 3 as his friends were trying to admit him to hospital for treatment. His body still lies in a government hospital awaiting repatriation. Frank Babylonia, a friend, said Aguido had been waiting for almost a year to go home to be with his family before he died. “He could not make it and I really feel sorry for his family,” Babylonia said. Prior to his death, Aguido, along with two other ailing OFWs, had sought the assistance of Vice President Jejomar Binay during the latter's meeting with the Filipino community at the Philippine consulate in June, Babylonia said. Aguido had told Saudi Gazette before his death that his manager had promised him last December of sending him home. His iqama (residence permit) was taken for processing an exit visa but nothing happened until he sought the assistance of Kaagapay ng Bawat OFW (KBO) advocacy group, which followed up his case with the Assistance to National Section in the Philippine Consulate and his employer. Aguido died while his Riyadh-based employer was trying to process his exit visa. Atoy Esguerra of Kaagapay offered the group's condolences to Aguido's family. “Our employers are the only one who can send us home so it's best to coordinate with them. For humanitarian reasons I am sure they will help us,” he said. Esguerra thanked Babylonia, Nestor Salandanan of Al-Wazbah Restaurant, Eloisa Martirez of Gurdians Brotherhood Incorporated (GBI-TBBG), Annie Valmonte, and the nurses of Abuzinada Hospital who took time in helping Aguido. Kaagapay also thanked Consul General Uriel Norman Garibay for his immediate action in bringing the remains of Aguido to the hospital.
