27 August 2013 – Another batch of 43 OFWs from Syria were successfully repatriated to the Philippines through the collaboration of the Philippine Embassies in Syria and Lebanon and with the assistance of the International Organization for Migration (IOM), which provided the airline tickets and meals of the 43 OFWs. This is the 27th cross-border repatriation undertaken by the two Embassies, which brought the total of OFWs from Syria who were repatriated through Lebanon to 1,545 since the start of the cross-border operation between the two Embassies in December 2012.
The Philippine Embassy in Beirut, Lebanon fielded three Embassy teams for this cross-border operation.
The first one is the Border Team, which was composed of Vice Consul Dennis John Briones and Protocol Officer Antonio Cruz, who were at the Masna’a border with the IOM staff in the morning of 26 August 2013 to receive the 43 OFWs from the officers and staff of the Philippine Embassy in Damascus and the Rapid Response Team (RRT). The Border Team escorted the repatriates all the way from the Masna’a border until they arrived at the Embassy in the afternoon of that day.
The second team was the Shelter Team composed of OWWA-Beirut Welfare Officer Imelda Gatinao and MWOFRC houseparent Gina Murillo, who assisted the repatriates while they took a rest and had dinner at the Embassy in preparation for their flight to Manila.
Upon arrival at the Embassy from the Masna’a border, Ambassador Leah M. Basinang-Ruiz and her spouse, Mr. Ricardo Ruiz, welcomed the 43 repatriates and wished them a safe and happy return to the Philippines.
The third Embassy team, the Airport Team, was composed of Vice Consul Rona Beth Goce and Property Officer/Administrative Assistant Ma. Chloe Silverio, who took over from the shelter team at 9:30 p.m. to bring the repatriates to the airport and assist them in completing all the airport security, immigration and airline procedures. This group of repatriates left Beirut in the early morning of 27 August 2013 at exactly 01:25 A.M. on their way to Manila via Qatar Airways flight QR 423. END
