Filipinos deported from Malaysia continue to arrive in Zamboanga

ZAMBOANGA CITY — The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) consular office here is bracing for the arrival of hundreds of Filipinos who were deported from Malaysia as the crackdown against illegal Filipino immigrants continue in the neighboring country.

On Wednesday, about 200 Filipino deportees, mostly Muslims, arrived in this southern port city aboard a commercial ship.

Condi Cabaquit, an information officer of the DFA regional office, said that the deportees were detained before they were sent back to the country passing the southern backdoor.

"Most of the illegal immigrants were among those caught by the Malaysian authorities who were staying in the country as illegal aliens," Cabaquit said.

These are Filipinos, he said, who have no proper travel documents.

The arrival of the deportees have brought the number of illegal immigrants who were sent home by the Malaysian government since January to 3,043.

Many of the deportees admitted that they entered Malaysia illegally using the southern backdoor by means of arranged trips for a minimal fare of P500 to P700 only.

They said that upon reaching Malaysia, they stayed with relatives who were legal residents in the country. Many eventually found secret work as laborers and house helpers.

The Malaysian authorities resumed its massive crackdown on illegal aliens following a spate of kidnappings by suspected Abu Sayyaf bandits victimizing mostly Malaysian citizens.

The latest abduction was in Linkian island on the border of Malaysia, where suspected Abu Sayyaf seized Indonesian skipper Walter Sampel and Malaysians Toh Chiu Tiong, 48, and Wong Siu Ung, 52. The victims are believed to be still held by the group in one of the islands in Tawi-Tawi.

The Malaysian government started its massive crackdown almost four years ago when the same bandit group raided Sipadan island and seized 21 tourists whom they brought to Jolo island and held hostage for more than five months before releasing them in exchange for a huge ransom.

As this developed, the DFA also announced that Brunei Darusalam has likewise issued a travel advisory imposing the law of caning against foreign offenders effective last June 12.