427 Pinoys arrive at Chiang Mai for RP flight

(Update) MANILA, Philippines - After a roughly ten-hour drive, the 427 Filipinos who were stranded for almost a week in Bangkok finally arrived in Chiang Mai provincial airport in Thailand where a special flight awaits them to finally bring them home. At the same time, the Philippine Airline’s flight PR732, the largest aircraft of PAL that would fetch the first batch of stranded Filipinos, has landed at the Chiang Mai airport at about 6:43 p.m. GMA News’ 24 Oras’ Mark Salazar reported that high priority was given to PAL ticket holders who have been stuck in Bangkok since November 22. As of posting time, Salazar said, the passengers are currently checking-in at the airport. Assisting them was Philippine ambassador to Thailand Antonio Rodriguez. Salazar added that the aircraft is expected to take off within two hours. The passengers are expected to arrive in the Philippines at about 11:30 p.m. Earlier, Rodriguez said the Filipinos left the capital of Bangkok past 8 a.m. He said the first group proceeded to Chiang Mai aboard 10 buses. A second group of stranded Filipino nationals are slated to board another PAL flight Tuesday. The first batch includes 91 overseas Filipino workers from Kuwait who were stranded in Thailand since Nov. 26. The others include tourists, he said. President Arroyo on Sunday ordered the repatriation of Filipinos stranded in Thailand, whose airports were closed due to protest actions. - Aie Balagtas See, GMANews.TV