Six fishers nabbed in Indonesia for illegal fishing home for Christmas

Six Filipino fishermen returned to the Philippines from Indonesia on Friday after a seven-month stint in jail for illegal fishing in Indonesian waters.

According to a report by Bernadette Reyes on "Balitanghali" on Friday, their families welcomed the fishermen at the NAIA Terminal 2 so they could be together on the trip to their homes in General Santos City.

The fishermen were arrested in April this year, around the same time 31 Filipino fishermen jailed for the same crime  returned home also from Indonesia.

Fisherman Samuel Surbido said that he was forced to take the risk of fishing in Indonesian waters as his youngest child was in the hospital at that time.

"Walang maibigay sa kanila kasi nakulong kami sa Indonesia. Basta masaya kami, okay na," Surbido said.

"Maghanap na lang trabaho sa ano man, kahit construction na lang, para makakain," he added.

None among the six fishermen will return to any livelihood but all are thankful that they will be with their families for Christmas.

"Bahalang walang ano basta makasama ko pamilya ko. Yon lang," Ronald Diana said. —Rie Takumi/NB, GMA News