The Department of Foreign Affairs announced the arrival of a batch of 54 distressed Filipinos from Lebanon after being repatriated by the Philippine Embassy in Beirut.

The Filipino arrived in Manila Tuesday morning aboard GUlf Air flight GF 154 from Bahrain and were compromised of 49 wards from the Philippine Embassy shelter while the remaining 5 individuals were detainees of the Lebanese immigration authorities.

Most of the repatriates are victims of illegal recruitment or human trafficking, Foreign Affairs spokesman Raul Hernandez said.

In 2006, the Philippine government implemented a deployment ban to Lebanon which is still in effect.  John Anthony Concepcion

Source: Manila Standard Today, Wednesday February 8, 2012 p.A6