A total of 76 Filipinos who availed of repatriation from violence-torn Syria returned to the Philippines Thursday afternoon and evening.

The Philippine Embassy in Damascus said it is assisting the family of overseas Filipino worker (OFW) Ma. Violeta Cortez, who died three days after figuring in a hit-and-run accident on January 5.

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Thursday urged anew some 4,000 Filipinos remaining in Syria to “heed government’s call for mandatory repatriation.”

Citing the escalating violence in Syria, the Department of Foreign Affairs on Thursday raised the crisis alert level there to “4,” calling for the mandatory repatriation of Filipinos there.

Fifty–five more Filipino workers in Syria have availed of the Philippine government-organized evacuation because of the continuing tensions and volatile political-security situation in the Middle East state.

Upon instruction of President Benigno Aquino III, several key departments will deploy on September 6 a 10-member rapid response team to boost the Philippine embassy staff in Syria where 562 Filipinos have asked to be sent back home.

A Philippine team is securing travel documents needed for the repatriation of the first batch of Filipinos from violence-plagued Syria.

At least 60 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) have relayed to Philippine officials their interest in being repatriated from Syria.

The country’s flag carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) on Thursday expressed readiness and willingness to help in the repatriation of Filipinos trapped in strife-torn Syria — a move welcomed by Malacañang.

The Philippine government is considering Damascus and Aleppo in Syria as relatively secure areas where Filipinos seeking repatriation can be picked up and brought to Manila.