The old commercial district of Batha is where many lonely Filipinos while away time to get over homesickness. It has also become a place where unemployed Filipinos affected by the crackdown on illegal workers go to seek money from compatriots to buy food.

One of them is Ronwaldo Cortez who said that he and six other co-workers are waiting to be deported, adding that their company had declared bankruptcy.

“We're currently negotiating for our deportation. But we also have to eat while waiting for the results of our negotiations,” he told Arab News on Tuesday afternoon.

He said that his colleagues were also in Batha to seek financial help from kind-hearted Filipinos.

Others ask for help so that they can raise money for a one-way ticket to the Philippines.

They have also decided to go home instead of continuing to work, for which they have to rectify their status before they can look for another sponsor.

“I have been coming to Batha daily in the afternoon to ask for help from fellow Filipinos for any amount they can spare for a one-way ticket to the Philippines,” said another Filipino who showed crumpled Saudi riyal bills he had solicited.

He said he has not approached various Filipino community groups for help because he does not know any of their members.

“Besides, I heard someone say that even before the crackdown on illegal workers, community groups had been banned by the Kingdom,” he said.

A reliable source said that “this is true although the Kingdom had been lenient and accommodating in the past toward these groups.” He added that soliciting money is also not allowed.