FYI - booked a cash ticket return for me from DXB/MNL and worked with an agent on the phone to book a points one-way flight for my friend from MNL->DXB (38K miles via Amex MR).
Once the agent understood the problem, it was easy enough, but there were taxes and seat charges totaling less than $ 200 USD.

A cash one-way ticket was about $1200, so this works for me.