By Beverly Paoyon
GLAN, Sarangani (August 24, 2009) – Thirty one Filipino nationals arrived home from Manado, Indonesia on Saturday (August 22) after having been pardoned from various violations against fishing laws of Indonesia.
Glan Mayor Enrique B. Yap Jr., who also chairs the Jose Abad Santos-Glan-Sarangani Cooperation Triangle (JAGS-CT), said the arrival of this batch at the Port of Glan has brought to 403 the total number of Filipino fishermen released from Indonesian jails since 2005. The releases were facilitated by JAGS-CT.
However, Saturday’s repatriation was the first documented accomplishment of JAGS-CT after the coordinating center for repatriation was transferred from Davao City to Glan during the 20th RP Border Committee Conference on April 17-18, 2009.
JAGS-CT is a cluster of southern Philippines towns formed in 2003 in support to the Brunei-Indonesia-Malaysia-the Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA). It aims to increase trade, tourism and investments by enhancing cross-border linkages with the northern provinces of Indonesia.
Yap said the appeal of the fishermen’s wives prompted him to request the government of Indonesia for the fishermen’s pardon and release.
He also noted the cooperation of the Philippine Navy, Philippine Army, Customs-Immigration-Quarantine-Services and the Department of Foreign Affairs for this initiative.
Yap said the fishermen were repatriated on August 21 (Friday) aboard the PS70 Philippine naval ship that embarked from the Port of Bitung, Indonesia to Glan Port with pertinent travel documents issued by the Philippine Consulate General in Manado.
Most of the fishermen were captured in 2008.
Thermal strips and scanner were used aboard the ship to detect if there were among them with fever.
Dr. Emmanuel Sto. Domingo, Bureau of Quarantine Medical Officer, reported three cases suffering from common respiratory tract infection, one jaundice case and one case on psychiatric illness. He added “there are no suspected cases of AH1N1.”
Sto. Domingo pointed out there was no AH1N1 case in Indonesia and denied any possibility of risk.
“We do not need to isolate them. I think they just developed cough and colds along the way,” Sto. Domingo said. “They are just advised to have voluntary health confinement.”
Despite this, Mayor Yap instructed the offices of the municipal health and the social welfare to give the fishermen each an initial dose of anti-AH1N1 drug and also an initial dose for the one suffering from psychiatric illness.
The 31 repatriates were: Allen F. Aranas, Alberto C. Cambal, Ronilo V. Tagpuno, Ponciano Suralta Jr., Rocky Suralta, Jessie Suralta, Samalito Suralta, Joel Plenos, Gerry Colaste, Victoriano Sumampong, Arturo Donaire, Bobby Rivera, Bonifacio Baleroso, Mervin Lebano, Emoksan Diva, Jose W. Alfuerto, Berto Alegre, Vicente Salabsab, Noel G. Magbanua, Alexis V. Abellar, Anthony V. Abellar, Peter Paul Lamanilao, Jaime Tagalog, Lito Montillano, Danacio Lapis, Rene Palero, Panfilo Orio, Ranny Pilapil, Zaldy Cabilao, Armando Pilapil and Michael Enad.
Majority of them were from Bula and Calumpang, General Santos City and one each coming from Davao Oriental and Davao del Sur and Balut, Sarangani.
Yap said another 23 repatriates would be facilitated next month to which release was being processed.
Philippine Navy Task Force Deputy Commander for Mindanao Capt. Philip Cacayan said they will take the advantage to ferry the 23 fishermen in time with the Philippine-Indonesia exercises in Indonesia. (Beverly Paoyon/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE)
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