The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said that a total of 63 Filipinos have already returned to the Philippines from Ukraine.
DFA Usec. Sarah Lou Arriola said on Wednesday, March 9, that at least 136 Filipinos have already crossed the borders of Ukraine and wait at neighboring European countries for the Philippine government to repatriate them.
Arriola said that 'a little over a hundred' land-based Filipinos remain in Ukraine, and refuse to leave the Eastern European country.
"As of last week, ang pinaka-concentration sa Lviv saka sa Kyiv pero karamihan nito, iyong mga may asawa po na Ukrainian. Alam natin iyong mga kalalakihan, hindi talagang puwedeng lumabas eh," Arriola said during the Laging Handa press briefing.
"So, it is always a very difficult decision for the wife or for the mother to choose to leave the husband and bring the child with them. Iyong iba naman, mga household service workers na nananatili sa kanilang mga employers dahil they stay where their employer goes," she added.
Arriola assured that the DFA will continue to plead for Filipinos in Ukraine to return to the Philippines.
