Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 1) — Thirteen Filipinos who crossed the Polish border on Saturday after fleeing Ukraine arrived in the Philippines Tuesday night, the Department of Foreign Affairs said.
In a tweet early Wednesday, Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Sarah Arriola shared photos of the arrival of the repatriates. Among them are a baby and three students who fled Ukraine following Russia’s military attack, she said.
The country’s envoy to Warsaw earlier announced that these Filipinos navigated the Rava-Ruska-Hrebenne Border Crossing Station on Feb. 26 where they were welcomed by Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr.
“Kahapon, talagang naihatid namin sila sa airport. Thirteen po sila, ito ‘yung pangalawang batch namin,” Ambassador Leah Basinang-Ruiz said at the Laging Handa briefing on Tuesday.
[Translation: Yesterday, we took them to the airport. There are 13 of them, and this is the second batch.]
“At ngayon, masayang-masaya sila [and now they’re extremely happy], they are really looking forward to going home and to be reunited with their families,” she added.
A total of 19 Filipinos have since been repatriated from the war-torn country, according to Basinang-Ruiz, and they anticipate more Filipinos will seek help.
She added that Filipinos who want to flee Ukraine will be given free transportation and lodging until they are able to return to the Philippines.
Overjoyed to welcome home our 13 repatriates from Ukraine. Among them is one baby and 3 students who fled Ukraine when the invasion began. They used the Polish humanitarian corridor to be able to return to the Phils. @teddyboylocsin @DFAPHL pic.twitter.com/iIOviectPv
— Sarah Lou Ysmael Arriola (@slyarriola) March 1, 2022
