SABAH IS set to repatriate at least 5,000 Filipino deportees after successful bilateral talks with the Philippine government.
Malaysia praised Filipino leader Rodrigo Duterte and Zamboanga City Mayor Beng Climaco in southern Philippines for allowing the return of the undocumented Filipinos now at four immigration holding centers which are congested because of the temporary suspension of repatriation from March up to now due to the pandemic.
Senator Datuk John Ambrose extolled Duterte, especially Climaco, for allowing the return of deportees. “I am happy to be informed that the Philippines, especially Zamboanga City officials, finally agreed to receive their undocumented countrymen from Sabah,” he said in a statement published recently by the Borneo Post newspaper.
The newspaper also reported that Climaco earlier hesitated to accept entry of the returning Filipinos for fear that they would pose danger to the local populace. “I fear that accepting the influx of deportees from Sabah will pose danger to the local populace at the time when the city is still crucially fighting the invisible enemy,” the mayor was quoted as saying at a virtual presser in Zamboanga.
However, with the national government’s commitment to bring back the Filipinos, Climaco said she is committed to support Duterte’s campaign to repatriate them from Sabah with Zamboanga as the port of entry and processing area for the returnees.
“Secretary Galvez, please report to President Duterte that we will commit to fully support his fight against Covid, one hundred and one percent and we commit to addressing the issue of returning Filipinos from Sabah being the center of processing in Region 9 and we will take on the responsibility in partnership with other agencies and with national government support,” she said, referring to Secretary Carlito Galvez, the Chief Implementer of the Philippines’ policy against Covid-19, who was in Zamboanga recently.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development said the deportees will be swabbed and tested for Covid-19 in Sabah before they are allowed to board the ship that will bring them home. Those who live in Tawi-Tawi and Sulu shall disembark in their province.
Ambrose said it was timely and the right decision, adding, Sabah will resume the deportation of Filipino illegal immigrants starting July. “I was made to understand that the deportation of the 5,300 illegal immigrants will be carried out in batches by the National Security Council,” he said adding that all deportees would undergo strict health protocol procedures before sending them home via the Sandakan-Zamboanga sea route.
“Sending home the deportees will help solve overcrowding in detention centers and possible coronavirus infections among the inmates,” he said, adding, the resumption of the deportation would mean that the agonies of the detainees inside the holding centers would be shortened and would also pave for them to secure proper travel documents in the event they wish to work again in Sabah in the future.
“The Federal and Sabah governments welcome foreign workers provided they enter Malaysia legally,” Ambrose said.
Galvez said Zamboanga residents should follow the quarantine guidelines and not be complacent as more challenges await the local government when returning Filipinos from Sabah arrive soon.
“Unang-una yun Zamboanga ay maraming mga challenges kaya huwag tayong mag kompyansa – unang challenges natin (ay) yun mga OFWs. OFWs will still remain because the world economy contracted (at) ang nangyari ngayon sa Middle East (ay) over 70 % ng business sa Middle East has shut down, nag lock down rin sila and more or less maybe 200,000 to 500,000 even a million of our OFWs will be coming here (to Zamboanga),” he said.
Kuala Lumpur previously thanked Climaco for the support and assistance of the local government to its citizens stranded in Zamboanga City.
Ambassador Norman Muhamad met with Climaco at the side line of the repatriation of the Malaysians, including those stranded in Sulu and nearby Basilan province. Muhamad also thanked Sulu Governor Sakur Tan for assisting and taking care of dozens of Malaysians in the province.
“The Embassy of Malaysia would like to record thanks to the Philippine Republic Government for finally giving the approval of this rescue operation. (Malaysia) did not forget the high appreciation to the Sulu Task Force (Covid) in taking care of Malaysians in Sulu; and the Philippine Marines and Philippine (National) Police on the safety and security that had been given throughout the operation.”
“Our party is also touched by the help of the Philippine Air Force for flying the Ambassador and officers of the Malaysian embassy in Manila to Zamboanga City so that all the affairs there can be managed by our side,” the Embassy said, adding, a total of 154 Malaysians stranded in the Philippines had been flown out of the country in June. (Mindanao Examiner. With reports from Zamboanga Post and Borneo Post)
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| An unidentified Filipino social worker speaks to Filipino deportees on their arrival in Zamboanga City in southern Philippines. (Library Photo) |
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| A Badjao community in Zamboanga. The city will serve as a processing center for returning Filipino deportees from Sabah. (Photo courtesy of Al Jacinto) |
Senator Datuk John Ambrose extolled Duterte, especially Climaco, for allowing the return of deportees. “I am happy to be informed that the Philippines, especially Zamboanga City officials, finally agreed to receive their undocumented countrymen from Sabah,” he said in a statement published recently by the Borneo Post newspaper.
The newspaper also reported that Climaco earlier hesitated to accept entry of the returning Filipinos for fear that they would pose danger to the local populace. “I fear that accepting the influx of deportees from Sabah will pose danger to the local populace at the time when the city is still crucially fighting the invisible enemy,” the mayor was quoted as saying at a virtual presser in Zamboanga.
However, with the national government’s commitment to bring back the Filipinos, Climaco said she is committed to support Duterte’s campaign to repatriate them from Sabah with Zamboanga as the port of entry and processing area for the returnees.
“Secretary Galvez, please report to President Duterte that we will commit to fully support his fight against Covid, one hundred and one percent and we commit to addressing the issue of returning Filipinos from Sabah being the center of processing in Region 9 and we will take on the responsibility in partnership with other agencies and with national government support,” she said, referring to Secretary Carlito Galvez, the Chief Implementer of the Philippines’ policy against Covid-19, who was in Zamboanga recently.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development said the deportees will be swabbed and tested for Covid-19 in Sabah before they are allowed to board the ship that will bring them home. Those who live in Tawi-Tawi and Sulu shall disembark in their province.
Ambrose said it was timely and the right decision, adding, Sabah will resume the deportation of Filipino illegal immigrants starting July. “I was made to understand that the deportation of the 5,300 illegal immigrants will be carried out in batches by the National Security Council,” he said adding that all deportees would undergo strict health protocol procedures before sending them home via the Sandakan-Zamboanga sea route.
“Sending home the deportees will help solve overcrowding in detention centers and possible coronavirus infections among the inmates,” he said, adding, the resumption of the deportation would mean that the agonies of the detainees inside the holding centers would be shortened and would also pave for them to secure proper travel documents in the event they wish to work again in Sabah in the future.
“The Federal and Sabah governments welcome foreign workers provided they enter Malaysia legally,” Ambrose said.
Galvez said Zamboanga residents should follow the quarantine guidelines and not be complacent as more challenges await the local government when returning Filipinos from Sabah arrive soon.
“Unang-una yun Zamboanga ay maraming mga challenges kaya huwag tayong mag kompyansa – unang challenges natin (ay) yun mga OFWs. OFWs will still remain because the world economy contracted (at) ang nangyari ngayon sa Middle East (ay) over 70 % ng business sa Middle East has shut down, nag lock down rin sila and more or less maybe 200,000 to 500,000 even a million of our OFWs will be coming here (to Zamboanga),” he said.
Helping Hand
Kuala Lumpur previously thanked Climaco for the support and assistance of the local government to its citizens stranded in Zamboanga City.
Ambassador Norman Muhamad met with Climaco at the side line of the repatriation of the Malaysians, including those stranded in Sulu and nearby Basilan province. Muhamad also thanked Sulu Governor Sakur Tan for assisting and taking care of dozens of Malaysians in the province.
“The Embassy of Malaysia would like to record thanks to the Philippine Republic Government for finally giving the approval of this rescue operation. (Malaysia) did not forget the high appreciation to the Sulu Task Force (Covid) in taking care of Malaysians in Sulu; and the Philippine Marines and Philippine (National) Police on the safety and security that had been given throughout the operation.”
“Our party is also touched by the help of the Philippine Air Force for flying the Ambassador and officers of the Malaysian embassy in Manila to Zamboanga City so that all the affairs there can be managed by our side,” the Embassy said, adding, a total of 154 Malaysians stranded in the Philippines had been flown out of the country in June. (Mindanao Examiner. With reports from Zamboanga Post and Borneo Post)
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