26 July 2021 - The Embassy of the Republic of the Philippines in Beirut, Lebanon repatriated its second batch of distressed overseas Filipinos (OFs) on 25 July 2021.  The 12 repatriates included six runaways housed in the Embassy shelter, two detainees, two workers living outside the shelter and their two minor children.  All the distressed OFs were undocumented and victims  of illegal recruitment and human trafficking.

                     The repatriates flanked by (L)  Ambassador Raymond Balatbat and (R) Third Secretary and Vice-Consul Miko Cabatingan

The repatriates were sent off by H.E. Ambassador Raymond R. Balatbat, Third Secretary and Vice-Consul Miko Cabatingan, and the Embassy's entire Assistance-to-Nationals (ATN) unit.

The repatriates thanked the Embassy for its efforts in extending the much needed assistance (i.e. welfare, immigration, and legal), despite the hurdles they faced in the domestic administrative processes, and in finally arranging their return home.

The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) also extended assistance by providing quarantine accommodations upon their arrival in Manila and funding their onward domestic flights to their respective provinces.

The recruitment and deployment of newly-hired Filipino workers bound for Lebanon remains illegal to date.

The Embassy continuously offers repatriation and welfare assistance to distressed OFs and their children, including victims of abuse.  Extending ATN services remains as the Embassy's topmost priority, especially with the on-going political and economic crisis and worsening COVID-19 pandemic in the country. END