81 deported Pinoys arrive from Malaysia

ZAMBOANGA CITY — Eighty-one Filipinos deported by Malaysia arrived in this port city aboard a commercial ferry on Saturday.

The deportees, accompanied by 11 Malaysian officials, were immediately brought to the local office of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to have their documents processed.

After meeting with DSWD officials, the Malaysian team flew back to Malaysia.

Saturday’s arrival is part of regular commercial ferries for Filipinos arrested in Malaysia’s ongoing crackdown against illegal aliens.

The Philippine government has appealed to the Malaysian government for the humane treatment of Filipino deportees.

But with a staffing shortage in Malaysia, the deportees may soon find themselves back in the country that deported them.

Labor Secretary Manuel Imson said the Malaysian team arrived with computers and biometric devices intended to facilitate the identification of the deportees for, among other things, possible reemployment.

"The equipment will be used in establishing the identities of Filipino workers and other migrants who intend to return to Malaysia and enable them to track down illegal migrants," he said.

Malaysia’s crackdown on illegal aliens has reportedly led to a shortage of workers.

Imson said the Filipinos that arrived Saturday are "set to return to their jobs in Sabah" as soon as passports are issued to them by the Department of Foreign Affairs. — With Mayen Jaymalin