DFA-sponsored Repatriation/Sweeper Flight Brings Home

106 Distressed Filipinos in Cambodia

29 May 2021, Phnom Penh – The Department of Foreign Affairs, in coordination with the Philippine Embassies in Cambodia, Myanmar, and Thailand organized a sweeper flight today via Philippine Airlines to repatriate distressed Filipinos in the three countries.

There were 106 Filipino repatriates from Cambodia, including five (5) infants and five (5) senior citizens.   The repatriation program was also made possible through the full support and cooperation of the Ministry of Interior and General Department of Immigration of the Kingdom of Cambodia.

After departing Cambodia, the flight proceeded to Myanmar and then to Thailand to pick up  distressed Filipinos from those countries before returning to Manila.

The repatriates expressed their joy and appreciation to the Philippine government and the Embassy for organizing the  flight and  helping them return home. One repatriate expressed her “heartfelt gratitude” to the Embassy for the “unselfish and untiring support” for the Filipinos in Cambodia. Other repatriates spoke of their eagerness to be with their families and loved ones.

Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020, the Philippine Embassy in Cambodia has facilitated the repatriation of 970 distressed overseas Filipinos in Cambodia. END