DAVAO CITY - Three fishermen from Mati City, who were apprehended in the waters off Indonesia last July, were repatriated to the country, and arrived in General Santos City on Saturday, October 17.
Repatriated were Nelson Demo and Rey Mabulay, while the other fisherman remained unidentified because he tested positive for the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) based on a swab test they took before their return to the Philippines.
According to Mati City Information Office Head Ben Tesiorna, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) was able to coordinate the repatriation of the fishermen with the Indonesian government.
Tesiorna said the fishermen, who were accosted in Indonesian waters last July 11, were fetched by the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), and arrived at the General Santos City wharf on Saturday morning.
An Mati City Incident Management Team (IMT) was already at the wharf waiting for the fishermen with two vehicles, one of which was an ambulance that would transport the COVID-19 infected fisherman.
Upon arrival in Mati City, the three underwent triage at the Milagrosa Alternate Care site for another swabbing.
They were then escorted to a quarantine and isolation facility until their swab tests come out, according to Tesiorna.