KOTA KINABALU: A total 316 Filipinos were deported to their country yesterday, in the first series of a repatriation programme for Philippine illegal immigrants this year.
All of them had been detained at the Tawau Immigration Depot since last year.
They were sent home using a vessel via the Sandakan port to Zamboanga, after seven hours of land travel from Tawau to Sandakan.
Sabah Immigration Department conducted the repatriation programme, with cooperation from the Philippine Embassy in Kuala Lumpur led by Consul General Anne Jalando-On Louis.
Prior to the deportation, state immigration director Datuk Dr Muhamad Sade Mohamad Amin said a strict health screening process, including conducting Covid-19 test and isolating detainees, were carried out to ensure no transmission of the coronavirus.
All the individuals were detained for various immigration offences such as not having a valid travelling pass or permit, violating permits or pass conditions, and overstaying.
"This repatriation programme is part of the ongoing deportation process by the Sabah Immigration Department for detainees housed at immigration depots throughout the state.
"The deportation process could not be implemented earlier this year due to the movement control order.
"However, as a result of close cooperation between the department and Philippine embassy officials, we conducted the deportation in an orderly manner," said Muhamad Sade.
He stressed the state immigration remains committed in carrying out enforcement against illegal immigrants and repatriating them after going through legal processes as well as getting confirmation from their respective embassies.
