Sabah Immigration Dept deports 769 to the Philippines
KOTA KINABALU: After months in detention, and several years for a few, 769 Philippines nationals, including infants and retirees, were finally deported on Thursday (May 15).
The detainees, who were in the Papar, Sandakan and Tawau depots, were sent back to Zamboanga City via sea routes, said Sabah Immigration Department director Datuk Sitti Saleha Habib Yussof.
She said those involved in this operation comprised 438 men, 140 women, 98 boys and 93 girls, aged between three months old and 73.
She said children were sent back with their guardians or parents in this operation.
'This is part of our ongoing effort to deport all the detainees in our detention centres stateside,' said Sitti, adding that they have deported a total of 4,762 Filipinos to date this year.
She said these illegal immigrants have undergone their jail terms for various immigration and other laws.
She said the department was working closely with other agencies to facilitate the quick and smooth deportation of all its detainees to avoid congestion and lengthy detentions.
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