Philippines to bring home first group of Filipinos from Iraq

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte (centre) making his spece during the Joint Armed Forces of the Philippines-Philippine National Police (AFP-PNP) Command Conference at the Malacanang presidential palace in Manila, Philippines. The Philippine government has ordered the mandatory evacuation of Filipino workers from Iraq. - AP

MANILA: The first batch of Filipinos to be repatriated from Iraq will leave for the Philippines via Qatar over the weekend, the defence department said on Saturday (Jan 11), as officials stressed the situation in the area remains "unstable."

At least 14 Filipinos were now at the Philippine embassy in Baghdad, waiting to be transported to Doha for their flight to Manila on Sunday, said Department of Defence spokesman Arsenio Andolong.