Lorenzana: Over 174,000 OFWs repatriated amid COVID-19 pandemic

The Philippine government repatriated more than 174,000 overseas Filipino workers since April amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said.

In a nationally-televised briefing with President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday night, Lorenzana said the government stabilized the repatriation to an average 1,500.

“Ang ating repatriation ng OFWs ay tuloy-tuloy pa rin,” he said.

Moreover, he said the third batch of 72 fatalities from the Middle East arrived over the weekend.

Of the number, 62 are COVID-19-related deaths, while the 10 are due to other causes.

Lorenzana also said the third batch of 379 Filipinos from Sabah arrived two days ago.

All tested negative for the virus, he added.

“Na-testing na po sila doon bago umalis and COVID-free lahat,” he said. “Karamihan ay nakatira sa Tawi-Tawi, Sulu, Basilan at kaunti sa Zamboanga.”

The Department of Foreign Affairs has recorded 10,070 COVID-19 cases among Filipinos overseas as of Monday, most of them were from the Middle East/Africa.

Of this number, 6,127 have recovered while 755 had died. — DVM, GMA News