20 May 2015 - The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), in coordination with the Philippine Consulate General in Manado, repatriated yesterday, 17 Filipino fishermen of fishing vessels KM Garuda 05, KM Garuda 06, KM Inday Hubag, KM JVY and KM JV from Jakarta, Indonesia.  They were received by Ambassador Ricardo M. Endaya of the Office of the Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs (OUMWA).

The said 17 Filipino fishermen were arrested in groups for illegally fishing in Indonesian waters.  They were not in possession of passports nor travel documents when they entered Indonesian waters.  Of the 17, two are boat captains who served sentence after they were arrested in 2012.

DFA coordinated with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to arrange for the temporary shelter and transportation requirements of the said 17 Filipinos for their onward travel to General Santos City and Saranggani Province.

“The Philippine Government is committed to provide repatriation assistance to Filipinos who may find themselves in distress overseas, including our fisher folks who stray into foreign waters,” stated Ambassador Endaya.

Since January 2015, the DFA has repatriated 139 Filipino fishermen from Indonesia after entering Indonesian waters without proper documentation and permission. END