Repatriation of stranded Pinoys in Jeddah almost complete

Philippine authorities in Saudi Arabia said the repatriation of more than 800 Filipinos stranded in Jeddah is almost complete, following the departure of another batch of 40 Tuesday night. Online newspaper Arab News (www.arabnews.com) reported Wednesday that Vicky Salian, head of the consulate's Assistance to Nationals Section, said only 60 remained at the Tarhil or Deportation Center. Consul General Pendosina Lomondot said he expected the last of the distressed Filipinos to fly home by July 12. Lomondot accompanied the last batch to be transferred from the "processing center" at Jeddah Seaport to the Deportation Center on Sunday. "They should have all been repatriated last week after they were cleared by the Passport and Immigration Department but there were not enough seats available in scheduled flights to Manila," he said. More than 200 of the repatriated Filipinos went to Jeddah from different places in the Kingdom. Most of these were women who went to the Kingdom for Umrah or Haj and overstayed were based in Jeddah. - GMANews.TV