The Philippines’ Department of National Defense has announced that 12 Filipinos from Iraq will be the first batch to be repatriated from the Middle East scheduled to board a plane towards Manila tonight.
In a few hours’ time, these 12 Filipinos will soon be routed through a connecting flight from Baghdad within the Middle East and are expected to be home at around 4:10 pm, Philippine time.
Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana stated earlier that the repatriation of these Filipinos was delayed because of the unexpected flight disruptions yesterday at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport due to the ashfall coming from the Taal Volcano’s phreatic eruption, as per reports from CNN Philippines.
“If the airport can accept their flights, then makakauwi na sila,” said Lorenzana during a press briefing of the National Disaster Risk Reduction Management.
Around 25,000 passengers were affected as flights were cancelled, delayed or rerouted to other airports as the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) aims to ensure the safety of all passengers.
Lorenzana assured that Filipinos who will be repatriated will soon reach Philippine soil after a day or a few hours of delays: “Mga one day or hours lang siguro ýan. Kasi in-open na ni Manager Monreal yung airport…Pinapauna niyang paalisin yung mga nandiyan na kasing walang bay yung darating,” he said.
