One hundred thirty-seven Pinoy repatriates from Saudi arrived in Manila today. They comprise the first batch of Filipino to be deported back to the country. The repatriation gave priority to 100 women and 37 children.

Close to a thousand Filipinos went to the Philippine embassy in Jeddah in order to seek help for documentation assistance for their voluntary deportation and avoid being jailed or fined for overstaying in the Kingdom.

The Saudi government gave an extended amnesty to almost 750 Filipinos, the bulk of which have expired visas and those who escaped from abusive employers. When the two-month amnesty period offered by the Saudi government for illegal workers was coming to an end, the Filipinos decided to go to the consulate for protection. The number of Filipinos who seek assistance in the consulate swelled as more Filipinos came. Some of them have fallen victims to "fixers" who promised them easy and early deportation.

Welfare Officer Jake Samain made clear that those being readied for repatriation are Filipinos who have overstayed their visas while in the Kingdom or for those whose contracts have been finished. He added further that the program doesn't cover those with unfinished contracts.