DFA: 12 Pinoys due to arrive in PHL from strife-torn Syria

At least 12 overseas Filipino workers are expected to arrive in the Philippines from violence-hit Syria late Thursday afternoon, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said. DFA spokesman Raul Hernandez said the 12 had availed of the Philippine government's call for voluntary repatriation, radio dzBB reported. The dzBB report quoted Hernandez as saying the 12 are to arrive aboard a commercial flight at about 4:45 p.m. In a text message to GMA News Online, Hernandez said, "They are the latest batch since we raised alert level 3 for the entire country (of Syria)." "Since last March, we have repatriated a total of 96 OFWs from Syria," Hernandez added. Earlier, the DFA raised the alert level in Syria to "3," and encouraged Filipinos there to avail of voluntary repatriation. Philippine officials in Syria continue to convince Filipinos there to avail of repatriation while the exit and escape routes are still open. - VVP, GMA News