151 overstaying Filipinos in Jeddah to arrive in Manila

MANILA, Philippines—A total of 151 Filipinos who overstayed their visas in Saudi Arabia now have the green light to go home and will arrive in Manila this week, the Department of Foreign Affairs said Tuesday.

The Filipinos—93 males, 32 females and 26 children—will fly in five batches after being cleared for repatriation by the Saudi Directorate General for Passports, the Philippine Consulate General in Jeddah said in a report to the DFA in Manila.

At the same time, the Filipinos who had camped out next to the consulate have voluntarily returned to the Seaport Hajj Terminal facility last May 12, the DFA said.

Earlier, the consulate reported that it has assisted in the repatriation of 972 Filipinos out of the 1,160 staying at the consulate-operated Hajj Terminal facility since January 24.

The DFA said the consulate has readied the next batch of women and children for admission into the deportation center.