8 repatriated Pinoys arrive from Haiti

Eight Filipinos based in earthquake-devastated Haiti arrived home early Thursday, with some of them still trying to recover from their harrowing experience. Radio dzBB's Manny Vargas reported that the eight arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport aboard a Philippine Airlines PR-103 flight from Los Angeles. One of the returning Filipinos, Dominador Bagading Jr., was suffering from high blood pressure while Maila Trinidad said she had lost much sleep since the quake hit last January 12. Trinidad said she and other Filipinos staying at an evacuation center in Haiti took turns watching their belongings from looters. Many of the Filipinos also said that while they are in relatively good condition, their biggest concern now is their livelihood now that they have returned. On Wednesday, a Malacañang statement had indicated a batch of 11 Filipinos was to arrive Thursday. Another batch of 30 is due to arrive Friday. President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo had ordered the Departments of Foreign Affairs (DFA), Labor and Employment (DOLE), and Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to assist the returning Filipinos. Last weekend, 23 Filipinos arrived home from Haiti. At the time of the killer quake last January 12, a total of 462 recorded Filipinos were in Haiti — 290 civilians and 172 military and police peacekeepers. Four Filipinos, three of them members of the RP peacekeeping contingent, were confirmed killed while two others, both civilians, remain unaccounted for. - RSJ, GMANews.TV