Pinoy nursing aide in US charged with alleged patient assault deported

NEW YORK - Filipino nursing aide Jovi Esperanza who was previously charged over alleged patient assault has returned to the Philippines after voluntary opting for deportation, Migrante New Jersey said.

Esperanza, 31, was detained for three months at the Strafford County Correctional Facility in New Hampshire, alongside his co-accused, Dhenmark Francisco.

Before his departure on January 29, Esperanza spoke with Migrante New Jersey via video call from the detention facility, where he expressed gratitude for their support.

“It means a lot that you were there for me, even though I didn’t know any of you personally. Your support was a huge help in enduring this ordeal," he said.

“I deeply appreciate all your efforts. Despite your own responsibilities, you still made time to help me, and for that, I am truly grateful," Esperanza added.

“They have already given me my departure date—on the 29th. I hope it pushes through soon. I look forward to the day I can give back, if not to you, then to others who may find themselves in a similar situation," he said.

According to AJ Santos of Migrante, Esperanza later sent a message confirming that he had safely arrived in the Philippines and reunited with his family.

Esperanza and Francisco were charged with aggravated assault for allegedly beating a 52-year-old male patient at the rehabilitation facility where they worked in New Jersey in October 2024. The victim was left in critical condition at the hospital.

The two maintained their self-defense claim, stating that the patient had attacked them first.

According to Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Undersecretary Eduardo De Vega, the DFA allocated funds last year for the legal assistance of both Esperanza and Francisco. However, the amount could not be disbursed to Esperanza while he was in custody.

“The DFA disbursed cash from the Legal Assistance Fund (LAF) for incurred and anticipated legal expenses for the criminal case. However, since he was already in custody, the amount could not be released to him,” De Vega told GMA Integrated News in a message.

Meanwhile, Francisco remains detained at an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention facility in Massachusetts. —KG, GMA Integrated News