PH Consulate General in Manado Repatriates 22 Filipino fishermen

Assistance to Nationals (ATN) Officer Zalvieluz Maquinad in one of her many engagements with court officials. (Manado PCG photo)

MANADO, 30 October 2021 — The Philippine Consulate General in Manado repatriated 22 Filipino fishermen in distress on 25 October 2021. Of the 22 repatriates, five were boat captains accused of illegal fishing, while 13 were crew of the fishing boats in the illegal fishing cases, and four were fishermen who were found in violation of immigration laws of Indonesia.

The Consulate General lobbied diligently for months to secure the speedy disposition of cases against the Filipino fishermen, and provided a lawyer who represented them in administrative investigations and in court hearings.

Despite the high risk of COVID-19 infection in courts, the Consulate General’s Assistance-to-Nationals Team regularly attended hearings to show support for the Filipinos, and to closely monitor the conduct of hearings.

After months of efforts by the Consulate General, the Filipino fishermen were released from the custody of immigration officials, and given clearance to return to the Philippines last October. END

Vice Consul Manuel Ayap talking with Filipinos in court as he apprises the latter of the developments in their respective cases. (Manado PCG photo)

For more information, visit https://www.manadopcg.dfa.gov.ph or https://www.facebook.com/PHinManado/.