52 Pinoy fishermen caught in PHL-Indonesia border return home

Fifty-two Filipino fishermen who were caught fishing at the Philippine-Indonesia border in past months were repatriated on Tuesday.

The fishermen, most of them from General Santos City, arrived aboard the Philippine Navy's BRP Cebu, GMA Davao's Jan Bautista reported on "24 Oras Southern Mindanao." 

Some of the fishermen said they ventured to Indonesian waters because they could not catch many fish inside Philippine waters.

"Hindi lang naman ito ngayon lang nangyari. We do it every year kasi yung ating mga kababayan nahuhuli as illegal fishermen sa Indonesia... e dine-detain [sila roon]. That's why we have that Philippine Consulate sa Manado," Naval Forces Eastern Mindanao Commander Commodore Rafael Mariano said.

The Filipino fishermen brought with them the ashes of a colleague, Roberto Duque. Duque's kin said he fell victim to an illegal recruiter last year.

He was stabbed by another Filipino during a supposedly work-related fight. His suspected killer is believed hiding in Indonesia.

Hunger

Two of the fishermen – one of them 15 years old – narrated experiencing hunger while in Indonesian custody.

Both claimed they were beaten up while in custody.

"Lugaw lang ... Pinatrabaho kami, ulan man o init. Nagtatanggal ng damo," one of them said when asked what they were fed while in detention.

"'Pag may kasalanan kami, sasampalin ka, sisipain," added the other, when asked if they were beaten up.

The fishermen's boats were also destroyed.

Assistance

The Department of Social Welfare and Development's crisis management division will assist the fishermen, especially the victims of child labor.

"Back to basic tayo. I-interview-hin natin kung ano ang sitwasyon. Kung makita namin na kailangan ng assistance so magka-come up ang DSWD ng action plan," said Bonifacio Lumaad Jr. of the DSWD Crisis Intervention Unit.

The Navy said more than 100 Filipino fishermen are still detained and undergoing investigation in Bitung City.

"Pino-process pa nila e. Ang problema ang iba walang dokumento, walang mga papers. But eventually naman nag-uusap kami sa Manado ng Consul General natin yun... pino-process," Mariano said.

Meanwhile, the Bureau of Immigration and the Department of Foreign Affairs will interview the repatriated fishermen before they return to General Santos City. — Joel Locsin/LBG, GMA News

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