DAVAO CITY — The Philippine government repatriated 51 distressed fishermen from Manado on 17 July 2020.
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) in a statement said, everyone underwent COVID-19 testing in Manado and also in General Santos City; providing protective gear to the repatriates, including transportation to the airport; and, facilitating immigration and quarantine process.
Of the 51 fishermen, 29 are natives of General Santos City, five from Davao City, eight from Davao Oriental, seven from Sarangani, and one each from South Cotabato and Sultan Kudarat.
The Philippine Air Force repatriation flight also brought home 11 Indonesians previously stranded in the Philippines due to COVID-19 restrictions on domestic and international travel.
The repatriation of the 11 Indonesians to Manado reflects the excellent relationship of mutual and brotherly assistance between the Philippines and Indonesia.
The repatriation was spearheaded by the Philippines Consulate General in Manado, in collaboration with Eastern Mindanao Command (EastMinCom) under the command of Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Major General Jose C. Faustino, Jr., the Philippine Border Committee Secretariat headed by Philippine Air Force (PAF) Master in National Security Administration (MNSA) Colonel Gilberto T. Esteban, Jr.
The PAF with its C-130 crew headed by PAF General Staff College (GCC) Colonel Kim Eric Alexander D. Agatep, the Philippine Liaison Officer-Philippine Border Committee, Department of Foreign Affairs-Consular Offices in General Santos, Davao and Tagum, as well as City Governments of General Santos, Davao, and Mati ensured the repatriation was in accordance with the health protocols of both countries.-Newsline.ph
