The Tawat couple at the Dubai International Airport on February 28, 2025.

After decades of struggle, Filipino expatriates Ernesto Arnel Tawat, 69, and his wife, Teresa, have finally returned to the Philippines, marking the end of a long battle over an unpaid blood money debt that kept Ernesto stranded in the UAE. The much-anticipated repatriation on Friday (February 28) was made possible through the efforts of the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) and the Migrant Workers Office in Dubai (MWO Dubai). Speaking to Expat Media, Labor Attaché John Rio Bautista confirmed that the couple successfully departed from Dubai International Airport after all legal impediments were resolved. Bautista personally ensured the couple received essential assistance, providing them with food, grocery items, legal and medical aid, and a considerable amount for their daily needs. Given their lack of medical care for years, Bautista prioritized their health checkups before facilitating their return.

A decades-long struggle

Ernesto worked as a chef at the now demolished Ramada Hotel in Bur Dubai in the 1990s before launching his own food trading business. His legal troubles began on May 23, 2006, when he accidentally struck and killed a pedestrian in Al Nahda, Sharjah with his car. The Sharjah court sentenced him to 14 months in prison and imposed a blood money debt of Dh203,200. While he managed to pay a significant portion of the amount before the victim’s family dropped the execution order in 2014, he was unable to settle the remaining Dh93,000, leading to a prolonged travel ban. Adding to his challenges, Ernesto suffered a stroke in 2007, leaving him partially paralyzed and unable to work. His health deteriorated over the years, and without medical insurance, he was unable to receive proper care. The family business also collapsed in 2015. Their daughter, Tina Tawat, became the family's primary provider, struggling to make ends meet on her modest salary of Dh5,000. Despite Teresa being cleared to leave the UAE under the December 2024 amnesty program, she refused to go home without her husband. "Leaving him behind is not an option; his health is too fragile," she told Expat Media.

Expat Media's viral report sparks action

The couple’s plight gained widespread attention after Expat Media published an exclusive report on January 21, which went viral on social media. The report prompted an outpouring of support from the Filipino community. Philippine Ambassador Alfonso Ferdinand Ver and Consul General Marford Angeles reached out to the Tawats to extend help. On February 14, DMW Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac and Undersecretary Felicitas Bay personally met with the Tawats at MWO Dubai during their visit for the World Governments Summit 2025. Speaking exclusively to Expat Media, Cacdac assured, "Finally, his nightmare is over, and now he can finally come home." He also handed the family Dh20,000 for their daily needs before repatriation. Cacdac even inquired about potential job opportunities at the DMW for Tina, recognizing her sacrifices in supporting her parents. MWO Dubai’s legal team successfully negotiated to lower Ernesto’s outstanding debt to Dh73,000. The amount was then settled through the AKSYON Fund (Agarang Kalinga at Saklolo para sa mga OFW na Nangangailangan), which provides assistance to distressed overseas Filipino workers (OFWs). On February 24, with legal barriers cleared, the couple was assisted in securing their exit formalities and fit-to-travel certificates. At Dubai International Airport on Friday, Ernesto and Teresa bid an emotional farewell to their daughter. Assisted by airport personnel in wheelchairs, they waved one last time before boarding their flight home. “This repatriation is a testament to the government’s commitment to serving and protecting OFWs,” Cacdac told Expat Media. "We will continue to support Ernesto’s medical needs and help him rebuild his life through a livelihood program once he is back in the Philippines." With their repatriation, it's a fresh start ahead for Ernesto and Teresa, who will finally be reunited with their family and friends in the Philippines after their 31-year journey in the UAE. PIA/ICA/Expat Media
For all the latest news from the UAE and the world, follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram and subscribe to our YouTube page