Filipino Expat Missing Since Christmas Found In UAE Hospital Worried Family Seeks Help

A 52-year-old Filipino expat who went missing on Christmas day in Abu Dhabi has been found at a hospital after about 10 days. Though relieved at finally being able to locate Andres Andaya Balane, his family back in the Philippines are desperately trying to understand how he came to be hospitalised.

Andres' 21-year-old daughter, Ezra Nhiez Balane - who lives in the Philippines with her mother and sister - first received clues about her father's whereabouts from concerned Filipino expats in Abu Dhabi who came across her missing-person poster on social media.

Information shared by Good Samaritan compatriots suggested Andres had been placed on a ventilator after experiencing breathing difficulties. He has also reportedly undergone surgery and has not yet regained consciousness.

A source confirmed to Khaleej Times that Andres is in the hospital's surgical ICU, though further details about his condition remain unclear.

According to Ezra, her father only suffers from high blood pressure and had not reported any other health issues in the past.

The last time his two daughters and wife spoke to him was during the early morning hours of December 25, at 7.30am. At the time, Andres, who stays in bachelor accomodation, had told them he planned to go to church on the festive occasion.

He has been unreachable since. It is unclear when he was found and admitted to the hospital.

Ezra, who hails from the island province of Guimaras, says she has reached out to Abu Dhabi Police for assistance, but was not able to connect with her father's employer - an engineering firm located in Mussafah Seaport. She did manage to get in touch with a co-worker, who has reportedly informed his employer about Andres. However, Ezra says she has yet to hear back.

Ezra's cousin who lives in Dubai plans to travel to Abu Dhabi tomorrow to meet his uncle and find out more about the situation.

The worried daughter and wife have now filed a complaint with the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) in the Philippines to avail help. They are expecting more information from the authority tomorrow.

Andres' wife, a salon owner in the Philippines, is holding on strong for her two young daughters. "I have been running around with my older daughter and we are just telling ourselves to be okay even though it is really hard. I found my younger daughter crying alone today."

Andres, an oxygen welder originally from Bicol, has lived in the UAE for the last seven years. His family says they haven't met him since he left in 2018. The expat would call his daughters, the younger one just 13 years old, as often as he could.

"He is very kind, caring and loving. He always makes sure our needs are met. He is also very generous. He would try to call us every day depending on his internet availability," said Ezra.

None of the three family members have passports and financial issues are their biggest hurdle at the moment. "We have no money to come to Abu Dhabi. Tomorrow, I might try processing my passport application... I really want to see my father because the hospital said they need immediate family to be there."

Ezra shared the only family photo she has with her father, dating back to 12 years ago, with Khaleej Times.

The daughter now plans to reach out to the UAE mission to request assistance, while awaiting a response from government authorities in the Philippines.

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