Indonesia to deport 26 crew members of 2 Filipino fishing vessels

Antara, Philippine News Agency

BIAK, Papua – The Biak Numfor Immigration Office in Papua would deport 26 crew members of two Filipino fishing vessels, arrested for illegal fishing activities in Indonesian waters on May 9, a government official said on Saturday.

Papua Immigration and Correctional Services head, Directorate General Samuel Toba, said the Filipino nationals would be deported for having no proper documents on June 17 through Frans Kaisiepo Airport in Biak.

Speaking at a press briefing along with Biak Numfor Immigration Office head Jose Rizal, Toba said the deportation process of the FB Twin J-04 and YB Yanreyd-293 crew members could hopefully be more quickly completed.

By doing so, the deportees, who had stayed in Biak since the capture of their fishing boats on May 9 and for undergoing the legal process, could reduce their stress and anxiety, he added.

To facilitate the deportation process, his party had coordinated with the Philippine Embassy in Jakarta and the Philippine Consulate in Manado, North Sulawesi, regarding the deportees’ travel documents in lieu of passports, Toba said. (Antara)