DFA: First batch of Pinoys repatriated from Yemen

An initial batch of eight Filipinos arrived on Tuesday from Yemen as part of the Philippine government's voluntary repatriation program, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said on Thursday. Citing a report from the Philippine Embassy in Sanaa, the DFA said the eight Filipinos included four females and four children, who arrived in Manila from Yemen on May 31. "Another batch of eight, composed of one male, four females and three children will arrive on June 3, and another batch of 11 composed of five males, four females and two children are expected to arrive on June 5," the DFA said in a press statement. The DFA said 178 Filipinos have expressed their willingness to avail of the government's voluntary repatriation program as of May 31. There are some 1,422 Filipinos in Yemen registered with the Embassy, the DFA said earlier. In an advisory released on Tuesday, the Embassy team urged the Filipinos "to consider sending their minor children and dependents to the Philippines immediately while commercial flights are available and the international airport is open and operational." - VVP, GMA News