PALU IMMIGRATION QUESTIONS STRANDED FILIPINOS

Palu, C Sulawesi, Nov 9 (ANTARA) - Immigration office here on Monday questioned eight alleged Philippine citizens who were stranded on Tolitoli district waters on last November 1, an immigration officer said.

"They just have undergone examination conducted by immigration officers starting Monday (Nov 9) at 11.00 local time" head of the local immigration status section, Dewo Murdono said here on Monday.
Murdono was not sure whether or not the stranded people are really the Phillipine citizens because they don't have any identity letter and immigration documents.

According to him, the local immigration office cannot provide further explanation because the inquiry was still goin on.

The dossier was still provisional in nature, sooner or later of completing the dossier will depend on the stranded peole, he said.

The local immigration office hoped that all the eight victims can fluently uncover the accurate information about their citizenship and causes making them stranded.

"The important thing is that in processing the dossier by the Immigration officers, the victims can explain clearly," he said.

In a bid to ensure the status of their citizenship, the Philippine consul general in Manado should make clarification about their citizenship.

If the consul general admits it, then the process of deportation should be conducted, the immigration officer said.
Their initial information said they are the Philippine citizens who worked in Malaysia, and when they were going back to the Philippines, their ship lose the direction that led them aground in the Tolitoli waters, the northern part of Sulawesi, Murdono added.

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