27 November 2013 – The Philippine Embassies in Damascus, Syria and Beirut, Lebanon with the support of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) once again facilitated the successful repatriation to the Philippines of another batch of 31 Filipinos from Syria on November 25.  Asin the immediately preceding repatriation operation, the International Organization Migration (IOM) again provided the airfare, land transportation and meals of this batch of repatriates.

The same-day cross-border repatriation operation commenced in the morning of November 25, when Vice Consul Dennis John Briones and Assistance-to-Nationals (ATN)/Legal Officer Junaid Ali, proceeded to the General Security (Lebanese immigration) at the Masna’a border crossing, where they met the IOM team.  At Masna’a, the teams of the Embassy in Beirut and IOM received the 31 Filipinos from the officers of the Embassy in Damascus and then assisted the repatriates undergo immigration entry procedures.

From the border, Vice Consul Briones and ATN/Legal Officer Ali escorted the repatriates directly to the Embassy where the 31 repatriates were received and assisted by Ms. Chloe Silverio, the Embassy’s Property Officer and Administrative Assistant, and Mr. Khalaf Hussein, the Embassy’s General Utility Man.  While at the Embassy, the 31 Filipinos took time to rest while waiting to be brought to the airport.

Later in the afternoon, another team composed of Vice Consul Briones and Cultural Officer Gladys Perey brought the repatriates to the Rafik Hariri International Airport, where the group underwent airline and immigration procedures.  At the airport, a representative from IOM was also on hand to assist the repatriates.

The group arrived in Manila on November 26.

The number of Filipinos repatriated from Syria now stands at 5,035. Of that number, 2,011 were repatriated via Lebanon. This is the 40th cross-border repatriation operation undertaken by the two Embassies. END