“The team will talk to Sande's attending physician regarding his condition. Specifically, we'll ask if the patient could manage to travel to the Philippines, which is about a nine hours' flight from Riyadh. If this is possible, his company should book him on a direct flight to the Philippines,” Mendoza told Arab News on Friday.

The POLO-CRO move comes on the heels of a call on Thursday by Dionisio B. Tabuco Jr., president of the Buraidah-based Samahan ng mga Manggagawang Pilipino sa Gassim, for the Philippine Embassy to help Sande go home. Sande had been working as company nurse at the Saudi Pharmaceutical Industries and Medical Appliances Corporation for four years when he suffered a stroke that rendered him paralyzed.

Mendoza also said when Sande arrives at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, an ambulance will be ready to take him either to the hospital or to the place his family lives.

“Since he won't be working due to his condition, the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) will extend disability benefits to him. The amount will be determined by OWWA once he gets home,” Mendoza said.

He added that this is possible because POLO-CRO had earlier visited him last month at the hospital to renew his OWWA membership.

“In fact, it had expired and we decided to renew it. It was Welfare Officer Cesar L.  Chavez Jr. who advanced the SR94 membership fee,” he told Arab News.

He added that the visit was made after Tabuco and Arnold G. Pineda, secretary of the community  group, called to inform them about Sande's condition.