Philippine Consulate General in Istanbul and Philippine Embassy in Ankara, led by Consul General Shirlene C. Mananquil and Ambassador Henry S. Bensurto Jr., welcome repatriates from Lebanon upon their arrival at the Istanbul Airport (Istanbul PCG Photo).
ISTANBUL, 14 October 2024 — The Philippine Consulate General in İstanbul and the Philippine Embassy in Ankara, in close coordination with the Philippine Embassy in Beirut, successfully facilitated the return of 37 Filipinos to the Philippines via Istanbul today, 14 October 2024. They are expected to arrive in Manila tonight at 19:10H and 20:45H, respectively.
Following representations from the Philippine Government, the Government of Canada allowed the 37 Filipinos, which included young children, to join the Canadian-organized chartered flight from Beirut, which landed in İstanbul on 12 October 2024. Philippine Ambassador Henry S. Bensurto Jr. and Consul General Shirlene C. Mananquil welcomed the repatriated OFWs at the İstanbul Airport.
Through the Assistance-to-Nationals (ATN) Fund of the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs, the cost of the repatriation to the Philippines including the plane tickets meals, local transportation, and temporary accommodation have been arranged and shouldered by the Philippine Consulate General during their stay in Istanbul for the comfort of the repatriated Filipinos.
The 37 repatriates expressed their heartfelt gratitude for all the assistance extended to them, especially during their stay in Istanbul. “Maraming salamat po at hindi niyo kami iniwan o pinabayaan simula nang makarating kami sa airport hanggang sa pag-alis namin,” said one of the repatriates.
This repatriation was a joint effort of the Philippine Consulate General in İstanbul, the Philippine Embassy in Ankara, the Philippine Embassy in Beirut, the Government of Canada, and the Government of the Republic of Türkiye.
The Philippine Consulate General in Istanbul and the Philippine Embassy in Ankara remain steadfast in their mission to protect and serve Filipinos overseas.
For further information, please contact: Philippine Consulate General in Istanbul (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.). END
Consul General Mananquil and Ambassador Bensurto brief our kababayan of the immigration process and logistical arrangements for their brief stay in Istanbul on 12 October 2024 prior their onward flight to Manila (Istanbul PCG photo).
Philippine Consulate General and Embassy Teama send off the 37 repatriates from Beirut, Lebanon (Istanbul PCG photo).
The Consulate General and Embassy teams assist the 37 repatriates at the check-in counter for their flight to Manila (Ankara PE photo).
Consul General Mananquil accompanies the last batch of repatriates while they wait for boarding (Istanbul PCG photo).
The last batch of the 37 repatriates board their flight to Manila (Istanbul PCG photo).
