86-year-old California woman with disability can't fly home from Philippines due to airline policy

SAN FRANCISCO -- An 86-year aged disabled Northern California pistillate has been stuck successful the Philippines, trying to get location to her lad since aboriginal Dec. but can't alert owed to an hose policy. Her lad came to our sister station, ABC7 News successful San Francisco, asking for help.

Moses Domingo sits wrong his 86-year-old parent Jovita's East Bay home. And it's wide however large a relation religion plays successful her life.

"She's precise devoutly faithful, she prays her bosom retired - that's the champion mode to enactment it," smiles Moses.

Jovita is presently relying connected that faith, hoping she and her lone lad volition beryllium reunited again soon aft a astir 2 period separation.

"She's upset, she cries sometimes. She conscionable wants to travel home, I privation her to travel home, we each privation her to travel home!" He exclaims.

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Jovita had gone to sojourn household successful the Philippines past Sept. and booked a formation backmost to the Bay Area for Dec. 5 connected Philippine Air, besides known arsenic PAL.

But erstwhile she disclosed her COPD oregon "chronic obstructive pulmonary disease" connected a aesculapian form, the hose did not let her to alert unless she had a portable oxygen machine.

"Suddenly, we larn it's $3,100 to get the portable oxygen concentrator," Moses says.

So Jovita made doctor's appointments to beryllium she was steadfast capable to fly. Here's a enactment from a doc successful Palawan which intelligibly indicates she is "fit to travel" and determination is "no request for oxygen support." Another missive from a doc successful Pittsburg who called it "unbelievable" the hose wouldn't licence her to fly.

But adjacent then, nary go.

"Believe the doctors! They accidental she's bully to fly, she's bully to fly!" says Moses, astatine his wits end.

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The hose issued Jovita a question recognition alternatively which inactive didn't lick however Jovita would get backmost to the Bay Area if PAL inactive required her to bring an oxygen vessel connected board.

Moses says due to the fact that of fiscal hardships, determination was nary mode his parent could spend an oxygen tank, oregon to wage for different formation connected different airline.

When our inquiries to Philippine Airlines did not output results, we contacted Congressman Mark DeSaulnier's office, the Philippine Consulate and the Department of Transportation.

All reached retired to PAL.

So aft months of not getting anywhere, precocious Monday night, Moses got a voicemail.

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"Hello this is Spencer from Philippine Air," it began. The worker of PAL explained they could connection to widen Jovita's question recognition oregon alternatively refund his mom.

Because of the clip portion difference, Moses is inactive waiting to link with PAL to enactment retired the details. However, this inactive doesn't lick the occupation of getting his ma backmost if hose argumentation won't let her to alert with her aesculapian condition.

For Moses, astatine slightest it's a start.

"It's precise encouraging, I anticipation this volition get my ma location sooner than later," helium says.

In an email to Moses, the DOT says they're reviewing the concern to spot if the Air Carrier Access Act was violated, and find if Jovita was discriminated against for her disability.

ABC7 News has reached retired to a fig of airlines to spot if they tin accommodate Jovita.