DAVAO CITY – Indonesia has deported 31 Filipino poachers who arrived Friday in Davao City in southern Philippines, security officials said.
Officials said the Filipinos were caught illegally fishing in Indonesian waters and handed over to the Philippine Navy on April 13 and brought to Davao City where military and government officials welcomed them.
Military photos released to the regional newspaper Mindanao Examiner show government and army officials in Davao City in southern Philippines welcoming Friday April 20, 2018 returning Filipino poachers deported by Indonesia.
Army Lieutenant General Benjamin Madrigal, chief of the Eastern Mindanao Command, said he coordinated with the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Indonesian government for the repatriation of the fishermen.
The fishermen also underwent quarantine procedures and their papers processed by the Bureau of Immigration so they can return to Davao City.
They were also provided an unspecified amount of cash as initial government aid and farm implements, including food packs, and they handed over to the Department of Social Welfare and Development for their return to their respective provinces, according to Major Ezra Balagtey, an army spokesman.
No other details were made available by the military and it was unknown how long the Filipinos were incarcerated or if their boats had been destroyed or confiscated by Indonesia. (Mindanao Examiner)
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