PCG to bring home Malaysian deportees

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) will deploy its two state-of-the-art search and rescue (SAR) vessels to help in the repatriation of some 300,000 Filipinos in Malaysia as the deadline imposed by Kuala Lumpur for the Filipinos’ voluntary deportation ends next week.

PCG commandant Vice Admiral Reuben Lista said he had received instructions from Transportation and Communications Secretary Leandro Mendoza to prepare the BRP San Juan and the BRP EDSA Dos for its voyage to Sandakan, Sabah in Malaysia to fetch the returning Filipinos anytime this week.

"Our two SAR vessels were instructed to be on standby while waiting for orders from Secretary Mendoza to proceed to Sandakan, Malaysia," Lista said, adding these Coast Guard ships could reach Malaysia in 24 hours.

Large numbers of Filipinos who were living in Malaysia have been deported in recent weeks after Kuala Lumpur imposed tough laws where anyone found guilty of illegal entry or harboring illegal immigrants may face a mandatory six-month imprisonment and possibly up to six strokes of the cane.