PH TO REPATRIATE 63 FILIPINOS AMID ONGOING VIOLENCE IN HAITI

THE Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and the Department of Migrant Workers and Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (DMW-OWWA) announced that at least 63 Filipinos in Haiti are expected to be repatriated amid the ongoing conflict in the Caribbean country due to violent gang activities.

The repatriation of 63 Filipinos comes after Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Secretary Enrique Manalo approved the recommendation on the declaration of Alert Level 3, or the voluntary repatriation for Filipinos in Haiti.

There are 115 Filipinos currently in the Carribean island-nation.

The DFA and DMW-OWWA are now looking to charter a flight for 63 Filipinos since no flights are coming out of Haiti, and while land travel to the capital Port-au-Prince is also discouraged due to violent gang activities.

As of date, there is no report of any Filipino affected or injured by the ongoing security crisis.

The PHL Embassy led by Ambassador Jose Manuel “Babes” Romualdez and the DMW-Migrant Workers’ Office-OWWA in Washington, D.C. are closely coordinating with the Philippine Honorary Consul General in Haiti, Fitzgerald Oliver James Brandt, and Filipino community leader Bernadette Villagracia regarding the planned repatriation of Filipinos in Haiti.

Haiti is currently experiencing a breakdown of law and order, with reports of civilian casualties and disruption in operations.