757 Pinoys repatriated from Zamboanga

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines — Malaysian authorities have resumed the repatriation of Filipinos who illegally entered Sabah.

Ivan Eric Salvador, Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)-Zamboanga peninsula spokesperson, said 757 Filipinos, who were deported from Sandakan on Tuesday night, are set to arrive in this city on commercial ferry M/V Antonio I.

A report from Sabah authorities indicated that 675 of the deportees are men, 76 women and 30 children aged two to 12.

A majority of the deportees are residents of Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi. They had been held in various detention centers in Sabah for violating Malaysia’s travel requirements.

The DSWD regional office said its Processing Center for Displaced Persons is on standby to provide shelter and assist the deportees until their return to their areas of origin.

Malaysian authorities will reportedly deport illegal immigrants on a weekly basis.