Press Release
PR-119-2014
30 September 2014
Embassy Continues to Extend Assistance to
Filipino Assault Victim Confined in Riyadh Hospital
(Riyadh, 30 September 2014) – The Philippine Embassy in Riyadh continues its efforts to extend appropriate assistance to a Filipino worker who suffered severe injuries after being attacked by unknown assailants in May 2014. His case caught public attention back in May when social media and news focused attention on his case.
The Filipino worker, McCormick Rabina, who has made postings on his social media page, remains confined in a private hospital in Riyadh, but has recovered from his injuries and is now in stable condition.
Since Mr. Rabina was admitted into the hospital in May 2014, Embassy representatives have regularly visited him and have coordinated with local law enforcement authorities over the assault case. The Embassy has conveyed its appreciation to the management and staff of the hospital for the care and hospitality it has extended and continues to extend to Mr. Rabina.
However, outstanding issues remain that are related to the payment of the medical bills incurred during Mr. Rabina’s treatment and stay in the private hospital, which is the main reason why he has yet to be discharged.
The payment of his medical bills has been subject of numerous discussions between various Embassy representatives, hospital officials, the medical insurance company, and Mr. Rabina’s employer.
In a meeting with Embassy representatives earlier this week, hospital officials mentioned that the insurance company denied the claim to cover his medical bills in light of certain details of the circumstances that led to Mr. Rabina’s assault that emerged during the police investigation of the case. After the Embassy’s meeting with the hospital’s management, Mr. Rabina was informed in detail on the issues related to his hospital bill and actions that have been taken and may be pursued with the hospital, insurance company and the employer.
The Philippine Embassy in Riyadh continues to be steadfast in its assistance to Mr. Rabina with the aim of resolving the matter of his hospital bills and facilitating his eventual discharge from the hospital soonest. (END)
