First batch of OFWs from Iraq on way back to Manila –Lorenzana



By JOVILAND RITA, GMA News
The first batch of Filipinos pulled out from Iraq is expected to arrive in Manila on Monday, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said Sunday.
Due to logistical concerns, the 14 OFWs could not be brought from Iraq directly to the Philippines, and were brought first to Doha, Qatar, Lorenzana told GMA News Online.
Quoting Philippines’ special envoy to the Middle East and Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu, Lorenzana said the flight bringing the OFWs will depart from Doha on Sunday and will arrive in Manila on Monday.
“We are still getting the flight details. Sabi ni Secretary Cimatu, departure from Doha is January 12, and expected arrival is January 13,” he said.
In an interview on Dobol B sa News TV, Department of National Defense spokesperson Arsenio Andolong said that there are 200,000 OFWs in the Middle East.

In Lebanon, at least a thousand OFWs had sought repatriation in light of the recent tension between Iran and the US.
Last week, Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III announced that the repatriation of Filipinos in Iran, Iraq, and Lebanon is mandatory.
But later, Bello retracted on his announcement for OFWs in Iran and Lebanon after the alert level in the two countries was downgraded.
“Sa Iraq, naka-mandatory repatriation na. Iraq po ang priority natin,” Andalong said.
Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps last week targeted US military bases in Baghdad  in retaliation for the death of top Iranian general Qassem Soleimani in a US drone attack.
The Armed Forces of the Philippines on Sunday urged Filipinos in the Middle East to consider going back to the country, as the possibility of a full-blown, US-Iran war looms.
AFP spokesperson Brigadier General Edgard Arevalo warned that repatriation process will be harder when war has erupted.
“Huwag po sana doon sa puntong talagang gipit na yung sitwasyon at nagpuputukan na, saka tayo hihingi ng saklolo upang mailigtas,” Arevalo said in an interview on Dobol B sa News TV aired on GMA News TV. —LBG/KG, GMA News

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