Coast Guard: Indonesian authorities repatriate 8 Pinoy fishermen

Indonesian authorities repatriated over the weekend eight Filipino fishermen who allegedly entered its territory illegally, the Philippine Coast Guard said late Monday.

 

Coast Guard spokesman Lt. Cmdr. Algier Ricafrente said the eight fished for the Kenzo Fishing Industry in the Bitung area despite the denial of their legal documents.

 

Ricafrente said the eight were repatriated aboard the fishing banca "Linda Mars" and arrived at the port of General Santos City at 5 a.m. last Saturday.

 

A news release on the Coast Guard's website Monday night identified the fishermen as:

 

Basa, Tadlongan, Espina, Mahinay, and Galendez are from General Santos City, while Sapra and Luna are from Davao Oriental and Daro, from Surigao del Sur.

 

The fishermen were turned over to Coast Guard Station General Santos City at around 3 p.m. Sunday by Raymond Bernardo, owner of Kenzo Fishing Industry.

 

"After documentation and investigation, said fishermen returned to their respective families at around 3:30 p.m. (Sunday)," the Coast Guard said. — RSJ, GMA News