The Philippine government yesterday said it will push through with the evacuation of Filipinos trapped in the raging violence in Syria despite a United Nations-backed April 10 ceasefire calling for a complete withdrawal of government troops and weapons.

A total of 22 female overseas Filipino workers will arrive in Manila in three batches this Wednesday, bringing to 1,243 the number of Filipinos moved to safety since civil strife erupted in the troubled Middle East state. Rebel forces have been demanding Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, whom they accused of oppression and gross human-rights violations, to step down.

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