31 fishermen arrive in Davao after arrest in Indonesia

DAVAO CITY – Thirty-one fishermen repatriated from Indonesia arrived here on Friday.

The fishermen were welcomed by Special Assistant to the President Christopher Go, Eastmincom chief, Lt. Gen. Benjamin Madrigal and other military officials, and representatives from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), the National Economic and Development Authority in Southern Mindanao, and the local government of Sarangani, according to Major Ezra Balagtey, spokesperson of the Eastern Mindanao Command.

Balagtey said the fishermen, all natives of Sarangani province, were arrested by Indonesian authorities for illegal fishing.

Their freedom, he said, was secured by Madrigal, in coordination with the Department of Foreign Affairs, when he attended the opening of the joint patrol exercises between the Philippines and Indonesia, which was held in Manado in North Sulawesi a few months ago.

He said the fishermen sailed from Indonesia on April 13 aboard BRP Davao del Sur and were later transferred to the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (Bfar) ship Lapu Lapu for quarantine.

Balagtey said the fishermen were given cash and other assistance upon their arrival here.

The DSWD, he said, would provide them additional assistance when they return home.