The consulate on Wednesday said the refusal of some overstayers to follow the rules set by the host government is not only delaying their own repatriation but also "hampering" the return of others who are following proper procedure.

In a press statement, Mary Jennifer D. Dingal, acting head of post at the consulate, said the issuance of one-way tickets to Manila is now in full swing.

She said that of 1,160 Filipino overstayers, runaway workers and their children who were admitted to the Haj Terminal at the port since late January, 972 have been assisted as of Sunday. Of the number, about 500 have yet to be given their return tickets.

"The consulate is exerting its best efforts to assist the remaining Filipino overstayers," Dingal said in a statement. "It has already made a booking for the next 200 Filipino overstayers to be repatriated in the coming weeks. The remaining 300 will follow any time soon."

Last week, a Saudi philanthropist reportedly bought tickets for some of those who have set up camp outside the consulate.

Dingal warned, however, that those who have sought to remain at their encampment outside the consulate compound in Al-Rehab district could not be processed under the rules set by Saudi authorities.

"The presence of this group is delaying the transfer of the Filipinos at the Haj Terminal (at the port) to the deportation center. This may lead to re-booking or cancellation of their flights and the expiry of their travel documents," Dingal said in her statement.

Those camped outside the consulate are among about 200 people who left the Haj Terminal on April 25 in a bid to pressure Philippine officials to expedite their repatriation. The number of Filipinos camped near the consulate has dwindled to about 50 as of May 5 since most of them heeded appeals to return to the Haj Terminal.

Philippine Ambassador-designate Ezzedin Tago, who is also consul general in Jeddah, said some of those who left their encampment have been moved to the deportation center to be processed for their flights to Manila.

Labor Attaché Vicente Cabe also confirmed to Arab News that 63-year-old Arthur Molina, one of those who left their encampment outside the consulate, flew of Manila Wednesday afternoon.

Arthur Molina, 63, was one of the Filipinos sent home on a Cathay Pacific flight on Wednesday. Prior to his departure he told Arab News that he and four other compatriots were among 67 men who were transferred on Sunday from the Haj Terminal to the deportation center. According to the consulate, 100 women and 47 minors were transferred there on May 6.