Philippines to repatriate Filipinos stranded in Bangkok

Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said Arroyo ordered the release of 15,000 dollars for assistance to the Filipinos unable to return home after the Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang airports in Bangkok were blockaded.

Ermita said Foreign Undersecretary Rafael Seguis would thresh out the details of the return of the Filipinos, who would first be taken to Thailand's northern city of Chiang Mai, to be flown back to Manila.

Seguis said at least 509 Filipinos were stranded in Bangkok, staying in different hotels or other lodging. They will be taken to Chiang Mai by bus, he added.

"We hope to finish the paperwork within the day," he said.

Thousands of anti-government protestors stormed Bangkok's airports last week to block the return of Prime Minister Somchai Wongsowat from a summit in Peru, and hope to force the government to resign.

Somchai put both airports under emergency decree Thursday and ordered police to clear out the demonstrators, but authorities have failed to act, fearful that an assault would lead to bloodshed.