Insult to injury as cops nab passport
FAMILY and friends of Darwinite Doug Edwards are hoping for his safe return after a serious motorbike accident in the Philippines.
Mr Edwards came off his motorbike this month and was badly hurt, needing steel rods in his left leg and having it pinned in three places.
But compounding the pain, Mr Edwards has faced problems with local authorities because his visa ran out while he was recovering and family friends told the Sunday Territorian his passport was confiscated by police.
‘‘I was in hospital unable to move and my visa to stay in the phills (sic) had run out and the police had taken my passport,’’ he wrote on Facebook on December 27.
‘‘I called the Oz embassy in Manila, they promptly phoned the police general in Cebu who in turn phoned head of police in Dalaguete to tell him to release my passport.
‘‘ So now after being threatened with jail for not having a visa to be here, albeit no fault of mine, I now have to meet with the head of police today in Dalaguete to explain my actions . . . watch this space.’’
A spokesperson for the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade would not confirm whether it was assisting Mr Edwards but said it was working to help an Australian citizen.
‘‘Consular officials are providing assistance to an Aust-
They smashed my glasses, they smashed my teeth, they smashed my
bones but they will never smash my spirit
ralian man in the Philippines and his family in Australia,’’ the spokesperson said.
Mr Edwards has kept loved ones updated about his progress through regular Facebook statuses.
‘‘Another day, another step forward, albeit on crutches,’’ he wrote in mid-December.
‘‘They smashed my glasses, they smashed my teeth, they smashed my bones, but they will never smash my spirit, thanks everybody for all your support.’’
Mr Edwards has had support from his fiancee, Juralyn Pejedero, who has been by his side the entire time, looking after him.
‘‘Juralyn you are an amazing lady,’’ he wrote on Facebook.
The Sunday Territorian attempted to speak with Mr Edwards for comment but was unable to contact him at the time of publication.