MANILA - Twenty six Filipino bus drivers stranded in Dubai are scheduled to arrive in Manila on Saturday morning, the Blas F. Ople Policy Center said.

The 26 OFWs are Aga Bernardino, Rabinal Anonuevo, Myco Asistin, Zaldy Austria, Antonio Balbosa, Jossie Bantillan, Enrico Barrera, Reynaldo Bernardino, Francisco Bulalacao, Erwin Carbonel, Edilberto Cherreguine, Simplicio Cortez, Teodoro Dela Cruz, John Flores, Hector Francisco, Joel Garcia, Eduardo Gonzalez, Bernardino Hernandez, Valerio Lazatin, Marlon Magat, Dennis Maniego, Nicolas Pascual, Ricardo Samaniego, Felix Torres, Samson Visico and Domingo Zubieto.

They are expected to arrive at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport at 11:10 in the morning on board a Gulf Air flight 156.

The Center and officials of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) will accompany the wives of the bus drivers to the airport to welcome their husbands back.

“Ok naman at least may peace of mind na kami,” said Irenea Maniego, one of the wives of the stranded OFWs.

During a phone conversation she had with her husband, she was told that most of the drivers could not sleep well.

“Hindi daw sila makatulog dahil excited na silang makauwi,” she said.

She added that her husband, Dennis, is having second thoughts about working overseas after what happened to them.

“Actually parang hindi na siya interesado. Naenganyo siya sa offer ng agency tapos hindi maganda ang nangyari. Baka babalik na lang daw siya sa dati niyang trabaho,” she said.

According to a staff of the center, the 26 OFWs are part of the 137 Filipino workers allegedly duped by their recruitment agency, CYM International Services and Placement Agency to work as bus drivers to Dubai.

The agency reportedly disseminated false job advertisement for 4,000 bus drivers for the Road and Transport Authority (RTA) in Dubai.

The staff added that there are still OFWs stranded in Dubai.

Last May, the Center and Atty. Reynaldo Robles of the Chan & Robles Associates accompanied some of the bus drivers who returned to Manila in filing a landmark case against their recruitment agency and lending institution, RJJ Lacaba Financing Corporation.

Some of the stranded drivers opted to return home while others found employment at the Emirates Flight Catering and Quality Mix.