After five days of walking from Lucena to Bicol, a 49-year-old man was rescued and returned safely to Goa, Camarines Sur.

The man, identified as Rodolfo “Rudy” Abad, started walking on January 13, 2024 before he was intercepted by authorities in Del Gallego, Camarines Sur, roughly 166 kilometers from Lucena.

The local government unit of Goa worked with the Highway Patrol Group (HPG) in Del Gallego to give Cobilla a bus ride back to Goa.

Goa, Camarines sur is 204 kilometers far from Lucena, a bus trip would take usually around nine to 10 hours.

Abad worked as a construction worker in Lucena. He lost his job and became a garbage trader, according to MDRRMO Goa. He decided to return home but didn't have the money for transportation so he chose to walk from Lucena.

Abad has no immediate family, parents, and his four siblings can't be found in Barangay Payatan.

In a Facebook post dated January 16, 2024, Zein Corporal Espritu said they first noticed Abad walking as they were leaving Tagkawayan, Quezon. When they returned to Tagkawayan after about four or five hours, they still saw him walking on the road. 

“So we decided to stop para tanongin si Tatay at hindi nga kami nagkamali, Galing daw sya ng Lucena City pauwi nadaw sya sa Goa Camarines Sur, 3 days nadaw po syang naglalakad pauwi sa kanila, At bilang tulong bumili nalang kami ng tinapay at binigay nalang namin yung natitirang pera namin sakanya,” Espiritu said.

Espiritu later said in an interview that she couldn't sit still and wished that she could do something to help.

"Noong ilang oras na po ang nakalipas, pabalik na po kami nakamotor, nakita ulit namin siya sa gilid ng kalsada na naglalakad [pa] rin. Tapos nung nandito na ulit kami sa bayan, hindi po ako mapakali, andami pong nagsi-sink-in sa akin na sana pinost ko siya. ‘Yun na lang ‘yung way para matulungan ko si tatay kasi wala rin naman po kami [na pera],” she said.

Authorities responded when Espiritu's post caught their attention.

"Nakipagkoordinar po ang LGU Goa sa Highway Patrol Group kang Del Gallego. Ang HPG po kang Del Gallego, nagkaigwa man ning initiative na pasakayon si Rudy duman sa sarong bus company. Napagkasunduan na aabangan mi si bus sa Anayan and iuuli mi [si Rudy] digdi sa banwaan kan Goa,” Glenn Remedio, Head of MDRRMO Goa, said.

Abad, upon reaching Goa, was given food and a haircut and was turned over to Barangay Payatan.

He is now staying at his cousin's house in the same barangay.