INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines – More batches of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) would be coming back to the country amid the increasing violence in strife-torn Syria.
In an interview with reporters after he welcomed 263 repatriates at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 1, Vice President Jejomar Binay said that two more batches of OFWs are set to arrive from Syria, and that one batch had an estimate of 400 OFWs.
Binay, in the interview, also appealed to the OFWs remaining in Syria to enlist and be repatriated, saying there were still thousands of Filipinos in the conflict-stricken country.
“Our work is not yet over as there are still thousands of Filipinos still remaining there. I hope that those who are still there would leave now because the situation is getting worse,” Binay said.
He noted that the Philippine government was contacting international agencies to assist in the repatriation reports.
He also cited the efforts of Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario in urging places in Syria to be declared as danger zones.
Binay also asked the help of the 263 OFWs who had been repatriated to give “complete and accurate information” about their stay in Syria, and how they were able to leave the Philippines despite the departure ban.
“This will help in gathering knowledge about the possible location of Filipinos still left behind, as well as in the government’s drive to stop human trafficking and illegal recruitment,” Binay said.