BY: VANESSA BUGTONG
Nanay Josephine clearly remembers the pain and fear she felt upon receiving the news about her son, Ruben Kepeng, back in 2012.
Ruben had only been working in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, for a year as an oil tanker driver.
On November 1, 2012, the tanker Ruben was driving exploded, resulting in the deaths of 23 people.
He was imprisoned in Saudi Arabia for nearly two years because of the incident.
Additionally, he was required to pay a 5 million peso fine as ‘blood money’ to the families of the victims.
Although Ruben was released after two years, he was not allowed to return to the Philippines until the blood money was paid in full.
“We had no money and no way to raise 5 million pesos,” said Josephine Kepeng.
Saudi authorities later reduced the required amount to 3.6 million pesos.
Even so, his family still struggled to come up with the amount.
But before the end of 2024, thanks to the Raffy Tulfo in Action Center – Northern Luzon, led by George Mendoza Punasen, the payment was finally completed.
Thanks to George and the action center’s efforts, Ruben can finally return home to his family in Buguias, Benguet, after nearly 13 years.
Ruben is just one of the hundreds of Filipinos that George Punasen’s team has helped.
They promise to continue assisting those in need, especially their fellow Benguet residents, in any way possible.