Coast Guard intercepts 63 Filipinos fleeing Malaysia

August 13, 2018

ZAMBOANGA CITY - The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) has intercepted a wooden-hulled vessel ferrying 63 Filipinos, who fled Malaysia amid a crackdown on illegal migrant workers, a PCG official said Monday.

Lt. Commander Noriel Ramos, Zamboanga Coast Guard Station commander, said the M/L Al Hapidz, skippered by Jawadi Adjilani, was intercepted around 3 p.m. Sunday near the shore of Barangay Baliwasan here.

Ramos said M/L Al Hapidz came from Sandakan, Sabah, Malaysia and has entered the Philippines via Bakungan Island in the municipality of Turtle Islands, Tawi-Tawi.

The Bakungan (Greater Bakkungaan) Island is at the edge of the international treaty limits separating the Philippines from Malaysia.

Ramos said investigation showed 41--25 adults and 16 minors--of the 63 people aboard the vessel were undocumented.

He said they profiled them, including the remaining 22, who have identification cards and travel documents and were turned over to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

He said most of the passengers of the vessel are residents of Sibuco and Sirawai towns in Zamboanga del Norte and Barangays Sangali, Sta. Catalina and Upper Calarian, Zamboanga City.

He said 10 passengers were visiting their relatives and are returning to Malaysia. .

Those undocumented are at the processing center for displaced persons of the DSWD in Barangay Mampang. DMS

The Malaysian government has recently resumed the crackdown on illegal migrant workers under an operation dubbed as “Ops Mega 3.” DMS