MANILA, Philippines -- Thirty-four overseas Filipino workers who left Georgia after it was invaded by Russian troops are now in Turkey, the Department of Foreign Affairs said Saturday.

In his report to the DFA, Philippine Ambassador to Turkey Bahnarim Guinomla said the 34, who work for the Anel Construction Company, arrived in Istanbul on August 12.

“The Filipinos were all in high spirit despite their 26-hour trip from Tbilisi, capital of war-torn Georgia, through the border and on to Istanbul,” he said.

Quoting Arnulfo Rafer, leader of the OFWs, and the management of Anel Construction, Guinomla said some workers will depart for Manila for their vacation while the rest will return to Doha, Qatar, where Anel Company has projects with the Doha International airport estimated to be finished by 2012.

The ambassador said those involved in the Georgia project will go back there as soon as stability returns to the country.

Guinomla “thanked the representatives of the Anel Construction Company for the orderly and timely evacuation of their Filipino workers.”