DFA Begins Iraq Repatriation with 13 Filipinos Arriving Today

15 January 2020 — The repatriation from Iraq begins today with 13 Filipinos due to arrive in Manila this afternoon.

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), through the Philippine Embassy in Iraq, is bringing home two groups coming from Baghdad and Erbil.

The first group from Baghdad, which comprises seven adults and two minors, was supposed to arrive yesterday, but was held by Iraqi immigration officials at the Baghdad International Airport for baseless allegations of visa fraud.

The other four adults coming from Erbil, a city located north of Baghdad, form the second group.

Both groups will be transiting Doha, Qatar before arriving in Manila.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin, Jr., has earlier announced that the DFA will do all that needs to be done to get Filipinos out of harm’s way. He also announced that the DFA is deploying Rapid Response Teams to the Middle East, especially to Iraq and Iran, to help facilitate the repatriation of Filipinos in the region.

"The repatriates arriving today comprise the first batch of Filipinos coming home after the government ordered mandatory repatriation,” DFA Undersecretary for Migrant Workers' Affairs Sarah Lou Arriola said.

Alert Level 4 or mandatory repatriation of Filipinos in Iraq was raised on 8 January 2020 due to growing security threats in the Middle East.

The DFA-Office of the Undersecretary for Migrant Workers’ Affairs coordinates the repatriation of distressed Filipinos abroad.

"More Filipinos from affected areas are expected to come home in the coming weeks," Undersecretary Arriola added. END

(Photo by the Philippine Embassy in Iraq)