Rape victim desperate to leave for Philippines

A Filipino worker, who was allegedly gang-raped and is being held at a Riyadh hospital because he cannot pay his bills, has again appealed to the Philippine Embassy to help him go home.
McCormick Rabina, 32, appealed for his case to be followed up, and that he be transferred to a shelter run by the embassy. This he said would help him save further hospital charges, which was around SR250,000 at the end of August, he told the newspaper recently.
Rabina gave Arab News a copy of his medical report that showed he had been admitted to the hospital suffering from trauma on May 16 via a Red Crescent Ambulance, after which he fell into a coma. He claimed that he had been gang raped by several men.
“If there is one thing the embassy can do is at least get me out of here into their shelter, so that my bill does not increase,” he told Arab News. “Is there any update about me, any good news for me?” he asked.
Some Saudis here contacted Arab News before the Haj and offered assistance, but said they could not get any information about him. They said that the hospital where he is being kept denies having him there.
Arab News contacted officials at the hospital on Wednesday, but was asked to get back to them.
Rabina’s sponsor was also contacted by Arab News who referred the case to the hospital or the Philippine Embassy. “I have nothing to say about Rabina,” he said.
Several concerned Filipinos have already visited Rabina and offered to help after his plight was highlighted in this paper in September.
According to a Philippine Embassy statement, Rabina’s case is under police investigation, and it continues to assist him.
“The Philippine Embassy continues its efforts to extend appropriate assistance to a Filipino worker who suffered severe injuries after being attacked by unknown assailants in May 2014,” said a statement posted on the embassy website recently.
The statement said “outstanding issues remain that are related to the payment of the medical bills incurred during Rabina’s treatment and stay in the private hospital, which is the main reason why he has yet to be discharged.”