DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS 
P R E S S  R E L E A S E
www.dfa.gov.ph                                                                                           2330 Roxas Blvd., Pasay City, Philippines                                                                                 Tel. No. 834-4000 
SFA-AGR-865-05                                                                                                                                                                                                                             08 December  2005

PHILIPPINE EMBASSY IN KUALA  LUMPUR EXTENDS ASSISTANCE IN THE REPATRIATION OF 322 FILIPINO DETAINEES IN SABAH

08 December 2005 – The Philippine Embassy in Kuala Lumpur reported to the Department of Foreign Affairs that the Embassy has coordinated with the concerned Malaysian authorities for the safe return to Zamboanga on 6 December 2005 of the 322 Filipino detainees from Menggatal Temporary Detention Center in Sabah, Malaysia.

The detainees arrived in  Zamboanga via MV Mary Joy.   They were received by officials of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and Philippine National Police (PNP) in Zamboanga who were previously informed of the arrivals.

“There were no problems encountered in the repatriation of these detainees since the Embassy has informed DSWD and PNP and were prepared to cope with the arrivals,” Charge d’Affaires Luis T. Cruz said.

CDA Cruz explained that majority of the Filipinos who returned to Zamboanga were deported after serving their sentences for visa violations while the rest were also deported after full service of sentences for minor violations such as theft and other public misdemeanor. END
 

/jay