PAF C-130 flight repatriates 51 Filipino fishermen from Manado

THE Consulate General in Manado repatriated to Manila 51 distressed fishermen aboard a Philippine Air Force (PAF) C-130 flight last July 17, 2020.

Of the 51 fishermen, 29 are natives of General Santos City, five from Davao City, eight from Davao Oriental, seven from Sarangani, and one each from South Cotabato and Sultan Kudarat.

The PAF repatriation flight also brought home to Indonesia 11 of their citizens previously stranded in the Philippines due to Covid-19 restrictions on domestic and international travel.

The repatriation of the 11 Indonesians to Manado reflects the excellent relationship of mutual and brotherly assistance between the Philippines and Indonesia.

The Philippine consulate in Minado, the capital of the northwestern province of Sulawesi, was assisted by the Eastern Mindanao Command (Eastmincom) under the command of Armed Forces of the Philippines Maj. Gen. Jose C. Faustino Jr.

Also joining the repatriation efforts are the Philippine Border Committee Secretariat headed by PAF Master in National Security Administration Col. Gilberto T. Esteban Jr., the PAF plane with its C-130 crew headed by PAF General Staff College Col. Kim Eric Alexander D. Agatep, Philippine Liaison Officer-philippine Border Committee, Department of Foreign Affairs-consular Offices in General Santos, Davao and Tagum, as well as City Governments of General Santos, Davao, and Mati.