Philippines sending planes, ship to evacuate workers

Manila: The Philippines will dispatch cargo planes and a ship to help evacuate Filipino migrant workers from Iraq after ordering its citizens to leave following an Iranian missile strike targeting US troops, officials said Wednesday.
Manila issued the mandatory evacuation order for its nationals after the Islamic republic carried out its first act of promised revenge for the US killing last week of a top Iranian general.
About 1,600 Filipino workers are in Iraq.
Philippine defence secretary Delfin Lorenzana told reporters the government will send at least three military cargo planes and a newly built coastguard ship to get Filipinos out of harm’s way.
“Once we gather them, we can maybe charter a plane or charter our ships to bring them home,” he added. (AFP)