Press Release
November 22, 2007

Gordon: Comatose Filipino now home from Russia

A Filipino who fell into coma while on board a trans-European flight arrived yesterday morning at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) aboard an ambulance airplane from Irkutsk, Russia.

Senator Richard Gordon, the chair of the Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC) who facilitated the special flight, identified the patient as Romulo Del Rosario.

Red Cross medical led personnel and the close relatives of Del Rosario in bringing him straight to the Philippine General Hospital (PGH) from the NAIA.

The ambulance airplane landed at NAIA at 5:15 a.m. to complete a flight from Russia which stopped over in Shanghai, China before proceeding to Manila.

Del Rosario's family thanked Gordon profusely, with the senator saying he is always ready to lend a helping hand to those in need.

Airlifting the patient posed problems due to his condition and the expense associated with the use of ambulance planes.

Mindful of the anguish of the patient's family and the urgency of the need to give medical attention to Del Rosario, Gordon coordinated his immediate repatriation.

"In this instance, we could not wait for government to bring him back home. I am thankful that he is here, and I am praying for his full recovery," Gordon said.

The senator said the Philippine government must have the capability to act swiftly in similar circumstances, considering the big number of Filipinos abroad.

"There are millions of OFWs out there who will have peace of mind knowing that their government can come to their succor quickly," Gordon said.

"At present, we do not have that capability yet," he added.

Gordon persuaded the insurance company that covered Del Rosario during his flight to Europe to facilitate the flight of the ambulance plane.

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