MANILA, Philippines — Fifteen Filipino fishing boat captains, who had been imprisoned in Indonesia, have returned to the country.
The Department of Foreign Affairs on Wednesday confirmed that the boat captains have been repatriated after serving jail terms of from five months to three years.
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The Filipinos were arrested for fishing illegally in Indonesian waters.
“Before leaving for the Philippines, the boat captains expressed their appreciation for the welfare assistance extended to them while they were still in prison,” Consul General Oscar
Orcine said.
According to Orcine, the Philippine government also provided welfare assistance worth P5,000 each before boarding their flight home.
Earlier this week, the Philippine Consulate General in Manado also repatriated five other Filipinos, who were held for overstaying.
The Consulate General also assisted the other five Filipinos in returning to the Philippines.
"He said the Consulate General successfully lobbied with Indonesian authorities in getting the five released simultaneously," the DFA said. — Patricia Lourdes Viray