Volunteers in the newly formed “Peace Brigades” participate in a parade near the Imam Ali shrine in the southern holy Shiite city of Najaf, Iraq, Thursday, June 19, 2014, after called for by the radical Shiite cleric Muqtatda al-Sadr to form brigades to protect Shiite holy shrines against possible attacks by Sunni militants. AP FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines – The third Filipino to be repatriated from Iraq is set to arrive in the Philippines Saturday following the Department of Foreign Affairs’ (DFA) implementation of mandatory repatriation in the strife-torn country.
“A Female OFW will be repatriated from Iraq and is due to arrive in Manila Saturday, June 28, via Etihad flight EY424 at 3:20pm,” DFA spokesman Charles Jose said in a text advisory to reporters Friday.
“She is the third Filipino who has availed of the mandatory repatriation program,” Jose added.
Iraq is faced with a growing insurgency by an armed group that calls itself ISIL (Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant) that has captured and controlled various towns around the capital city of Baghdad.
DFA has raised crisis alert level 4 last June 19 citing the rapidly deteriorating security situation.
Fierce gun fights have been reported between government forces and the rebel groups as they battle for control of territory and several vital structures such as oil refineries.
US has previously ordered the deployment of 275 soldiers to Baghdad in order to protect the US embassy there from the rebel group.
Jose said that the majority of the 900 Filipinos in Iraq are in the autonomous region of Kurdistan in the northern part of the country while around 154 are in Baghdad.
“Filipinos in Iraq will be assisted by the Philippine Embassy in Baghdad and the Rapid Response Team, which are currently undertaking registration of overseas Filipino workers for repatriation. The DFA
continues to closely monitor the political and security developments in Iraq,” Jose told media in a previous press conference.
The DFA has also set up hotlines for relatives and loved ones of Filipinos that are in Iraq and Libya, which is under crisis alert level 3 or voluntary repatriation.
“Those who have questions and concerns about the conditions of their relatives in Iraq and Libya can call the hotline numbers (02) 552-7105 / (02) 834-4685,” DFA said in a previous statement.
“The DFA urges all Filipino nationals in Iraq to contact the Philippine Embassy in Baghdad and register for repatriation. The Embassy’s address is Hay Al-Jamia, Mahalat 915, Zukak 22, House No. 4 and 4/1, Jadriyah, Baghdad, Iraq. OFWs can get in touch with the Embassy through the telephone number 00-964-7715807201, and the email addresses: baghdad.pe@dfa.gov.ph, pe.baghdad@gmail.com” it said.
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