A total of 13 out of 17 Filipinos, including a three- year old girl from war-torn Ukraine, arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 late Tuesday night via Dubai on board Emirates air flight EK 334.
The four remaining Filipinos did not make it because they arrived at the airport too late, at a time when the airport was already closed.
The 13 Overseas Filipinos were met by Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Sarah Lou Arriola and representatives from the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), who assisted the Filipinos upon arrival.
A certain Theresa and her three-year old daughter, one of the Filipinos who decided to evacuate their place in DNIPROPETROVSK, Ukraine near Crimea to a neighbouring European country, said they decided to leave their place before missiles and bombs exploded most especially in Kyiv.
She said they immediately left for the nearest European country without her Ukrainian husband who has joined the Ukrainian army to defend his country against the Russian aggression.
Greg Soriano, a Filipino who is a graduating student in Kyiv, Ukraine, decided to leave his place in fear for his life. “Halos sa Kyiv maririnig ang mga malalakas na pagsabog. Most of our Ukrainian male professors decided to join the Ukrainian army,” he said.
Usec Arriola said they learned about 141 more Filipinos who are still inside Ukraine, from which 45 of them refused to leave Ukraine while the rest are now in European neighbours. About 27 of our Filipinos are now in Moldova, 9 in Austria, 4 in Romania and 55 have fled to Hungary.
Arriola said the Philippine government gave them some $200 dollar worth of financial assistance that can help a little. Last February 18, 2022, four Filipinos and a 19-month old child were among the Filipinos who voluntarily requested the Philippine government to be repatriated due to uncontrollable situations in Ukraine and who arrived at the NAIA terminal 3 from Ukraine via Turkey on board Turkish Airlines. (Baby Cuevas)
