61 Filipinos to arrive from Syria

The Philippine government announced on Friday that 61 Filipinos from Syria are set to arrive in Manila tomorrow as violence in the Middle Eastern country continues to escalate. The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said the latest batch of repatriates will arrive in the country aboard Qatar Airways Flight QR 648. This brings the total number of Filipinos repatriated from Syria to 3,692. The DFA said it continues to urge all Filipinos who are still in Syria to seek immediate repatriation to avoid being caught in the escalating violence. Meanwhile, DFA spokesman Raul Hernandez revealed in a press briefing that 21 Filipino United Nations peacekeepers currently being held by Syrian rebels will not be released on Friday. The Philippine government said it is "exhausting all efforts" to secure the immediate release of the UN peacekeepers.