Fifteen Filipino fishing boat captains arrested in Indonesia for illegal fishing were turned over to the Philippine authorities Monday, August 20.
The boat captains have served their jail terms from five months to three years before they were released to the Philippine Consulate General officials. Each were given welfare assistance of P5,000 each before they left Indonesia.
Consul General Oscar Orcine is also lobbying for the repatriation of Filipinos who are staying illegally in the country, he said in a statement.
Apart from the fishermen, five other Filipinos who were overstaying their visa are also going home to their families in the Philippines.
The repatriates thanked the Department of Foreign Affairs for their assistance during their time of imprisonment.
