Filipinos won’t flee Yemen yet

Most of the Filipinos in conflict-wracked Yemen are not coming home despite the Philippine government’s call for their voluntary repatriation.

According to Ambassador-designate Ezzedin Tago, many of the 1,422 Filipinos registered with the Philippine Embassy in Sanaa, expressed their desire to stay on despite the political tension and escalating violence in the Middle East country.

“Many of them have expressed desire to stay in Yemen, saying they are gainfully employed and believe they are safe in their places of work and residence,” Tago said. “Their employers have also assured them that they have an evacuation plan should there be a need to move out.”

To date, only 69 Filipinos in Yemen have availed themselves of the government’s voluntary repatriation program.

“Save for three, most of these (69) Filipinos are overstayers and there are penalties that must be settled before the Yemeni Passports Authority agrees to issue them an exit visa,” Tago said.

He added that the embassy has already made representations with the Yemeni Ministry of Foreign Affairs requesting a waiver of the penalties.