Two batches of stranded Pinoys in Thailand arrive in Manila
abs-cbnNEWS.com | 12/02/2008 8:25 AM
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More than 500 Filipinos who got stranded for at least a week due to political unrest in Bangkok, Thailand have finally arrived in Manila.
ABS-CBN correspondent Jeff Canoy reported that the first batch of more than 400 Filipinos arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 2 on board Philippine Airlines (PAL) flight PR733 at 11:13 p.m. Monday.
The Filipinos were welcomed by their excited relatives who rushed to NAIA after receiving news from the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) about their scheduled flight back home.
On Monday, Canoy reported that PAL dispatched its largest plane on its fleet, which can carry 430 passengers and 24 tons of cargo, to Thailand to fetch the stranded Filipinos.
It was the first flight en route to Bangkok from Manila since November 26 when airline companies began canceling all flights to Bangkok.
The PAL flight fetched the Filipinos at Chiang Mai provincial airport. The Filipinos traveled on bus for 10 hours from Bangkok to Chiang Mai, where DFA officials made arrangements for their flight back home.
ABS-CBN's Jennry Reyes, meanwhile, reported that a second batch of stranded Filipinos arrived at the NAIA Terminal 3 around 7:30 a.m. Tuesday on board the 179-seater Cebu Pacific flight 5J932.
Reyes reported that the flight was supposed to arrive 4:35 a.m. The Cebu Pacific management said the flight arrived late due to problems encountered at the U-Tapao military airport.
300 more still in Thailand
Philippine Ambassador to Thailand Antonio Rodriguez made a rough estimate on Monday and said there may still be 300 more Filipinos trapped in Thailand.
“I think some of them are still somewhere in Thailand enjoying the place. That's why it is very difficult for us to give an accurate number of Filipinos who are still in Bangkok,” Rodriguez said.
“Like yesterday, dumating ang 14 persons that we haven’t heard from. Nasa probinsya daw sila. Marami pa siguro dyan. Thailand is such a big place and it’s so easy to go to so many places,” he added.
Rodriguez also learned that Philippine Senator Maria Ana Consuelo “Jamby” Madrigal is among those stranded in Thailand.
“She's also waiting for an opportunity to go back to the Philippines because she has to be there by Wednesday,” he said.
He added that 31 local officials from Lanao are also among those on board one of the 10 buses for Chiang Mai.
“Itong buses going to Chiangmai, we have 31 local officials from Lanao including Cong. Abdullah Dimaporo, and former Gov. Imelda Dimaporo,” the ambassador said.
