PH Consulate General in Manado Repatriates 51 Distressed Filipino Fishermen
The C-130 aircraft dispatched by the Eastern Mindanao Command (EastMinCom) and the Philippine Air Force (PAF) to help bring home distressed Filipino Fishermen from Manado. (Manado PCG photo)
MANADO 21 July 2020 – Collaborative efforts between the Philippine Consulate General in Manado, together with the Eastern Mindanao Command (EastMinCom) under the command of Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Major General Jose C. Faustino, Jr., the Philippine Border Committee Secretariat headed by Philippine Air Force (PAF) Master in National Security Administration (MNSA) Colonel Gilberto T. Esteban, Jr., the PAF with its C-130 crew headed by PAF General Staff College (GCC) Colonel Kim Eric Alexander D. Agatep, the Philippine Liaison Officer-Philippine Border Committee, Department of Foreign Affairs-Consular Offices in General Santos, Davao and Tagum, as well as City Governments of General Santos, Davao, and Mati ensured the repatriation of 51 distressed fishermen from Manado on 17 July 2020.
These involved COVID-19 testing in Manado and also in General Santos City; providing protective gear to the repatriates, including transportation to the airport; and facilitating immigration and quarantine process.
The EastMinCom and Philippine Air Force sent a C-130 aircraft from the 200th Airlift Wing with an 18-man crew in Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) that transported the Filipinos to General Santos City.
Of the 51 fishermen, 29 are natives of General Santos City, five from Davao City, eight from Davao Oriental, seven from Sarangani, and one each from South Cotabato and Sultan Kudarat.
The Philippine Air Force repatriation flight also brought home 11 Indonesians previously stranded in the Philippines due to COVID-19 restrictions on domestic and international travel.
The repatriation of the 11 Indonesians to Manado reflects the excellent relationship of mutual and brotherly assistance between the Philippines and Indonesia. END
Philippine Consul General to Manado Oscar G. Orcine expresses gratitude, on behalf of the repatriates, to the pilots and crew of the Philippine Air Force (PAF) who worked closely with the Philippine Consulate General in Manado to make the repatriation possible. (Manado PCG photo)
The repatriates, who are mostly fishermen, look forward to returning to their families in General Santos City, Davao, Davao Oriental, Sarangani, South Cotabato, and Sultan Kudarat. (Manado PCG photo)
The Philippine Consulate General in Manado exerts its utmost effort in implementing a wide range of COVID-19 prevention measures which include pre-departure COVID-19 testing and donning of surgical face masks and face shields. (Manado PCG photo)
Philippine Consul General to Manado Oscar G. Orcine (second from right) with Col. Kim Eric Alexander Agatep of the Philippine Air Forces (PAF) (rightmost) and Vice Consul Manuel Ayap (third from right) assist Filipino repatriates as they prepare to board Philippine Air Force C-130 that will take them from Manado to General Santos City. (Manado PCG photo)
For more information, visit https://www.manadopcg.dfa.gov.ph or https://www.facebook.com/PHinManado/.