BY: RHEN DE GUZMAN
The 4 million pesos needed for the blood money payment to secure the return of Ruben Kebeng to the Philippines has been completed, thanks to the efforts of the Raffy Tulfo in Action (RTIA) Center – Northern Luzon, led by George Mendoza Punasen.
Josephine Kebeng, Ruben’s mother, recalled the pain and fear she felt when she first received the news about her son in 2012.
Ruben, who had been working in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, as an oil tanker driver for nearly a year, was involved in a tragic accident when his tanker exploded, killing 23 people on November 1, 2012.
He was imprisoned for nearly two years as a result of the incident and was required to pay blood money to the families of the victims.
Although he was released from prison, Ruben was not allowed to return to the Philippines until the full amount of blood money was paid.
“For months, we had no communication with him. Then, one day, I received news that he had been imprisoned. I was just grateful to learn he was still alive,” Josephine recalled.
In April 2023, Ruben’s family sought assistance from the Raffy Tulfo in Action Center – Northern Luzon.
Through the efforts of the RTIA Center, donations totaling over 4 million pesos were raised. The amount is currently secured in a manager’s check under the name of an RTIA staff member.
However, Ruben must first open a bank account in Saudi Arabia before the money can be transferred. This requirement was set by RTIA, the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA-CAR), the Department of Migrant Workers, and Saudi authorities.
Ruben explained the challenges in opening a bank account:
“When my lawyer and I went to Al Rajhi Bank, we were informed that I couldn’t open an account immediately. It needed to be coordinated with their head office first.”
To address this, a formal request for assistance was submitted to expedite the process.
For now, the funds remain untouched, as they are strictly designated for blood money payments and cannot be given to Ruben’s family in the Philippines.
Despite the challenges, Josephine remains hopeful and thankful for the ongoing support:
“Our family is grateful. I have been praying for this for so long. We also appreciate the people in Saudi Arabia working on the paperwork. Seeing progress gives me hope.”
RTIA Center – Northern Luzon and George Punasen assured that their support for Ruben would continue even after the fundraising efforts.
