Indonesia Soon to Release Detained 100 Filipino Fishermen

ZAMBOANGA CITY: Jakarta is likely to release about 100 Filipino fishermen languishing in Indonesian jails to reciprocate President Duterte’s decision to drop charges against a group of Indonesians intercepted using Filipino passports for the Haj, according to an official.

The 177 Indonesians had been arrested at Ninoy Aquino International Airport. But 700 others managed to travel to Saudi Arabia using fake Filipino documents and were expected to land here by the end of the month, Inquirer quoted Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol as saying.

“The good thing (is), 700 more Indonesians in Mecca using Philippine passports are coming back to Manila and they will be issued Indonesian passports,” Piñol reportedly said. “The President (Duterte) said he will not file charges in the spirit of brotherhood.”

“I hope this gesture of the President (Duterte) would be reciprocated by (Indonesian President) Widodo,” Piñol, who visited Barangay Culianan here, added.

He was quoted as saying that 105 Filipinos had been detained in Indonesia for a long time for allegedly straying in Indonesian waters. Most of them were from Mindanao.

“Six of the 105 were not actually fishermen but on board two supply ships to deliver supplies to their fishermen and their movement was coordinated, they did not violate anything, but still they were arrested by the Indonesian Navy,” Piñol reportedly said.

He highlighted that the detained Filipinos’ conditions in detention remained unknown with Indonesia barring access to them.

Last week, 174 fishermen were repatriated from Bitung City in Sulawesi, Indonesia, and arrived here. They were immediately assisted by the Davao City government, said the news portal.

The fishermen were from General Santos City, Sarangani; Bayugan in Agusan del Sur; Negros Occidental; and Iloilo, and spent between two to three years in Indonesian jails for illegal fishing, officials were quoted as saying by Inquirer.

(Source: FilipinoTimes.ae)