Malaysia deports Filipinos over immigration offences
Updated
Malaysia has deported 269 Filipinos imprisoned for immigration offences, completing the transfer of those imprisoned for immigration offences.
Our reporter in Manila, Shirley Escalante, says they've been sent back to Zamboanga in the southern Philippines.
The Philippine Labor Attache to Malaysia, Josephus Jimenez, says the deportees were part of some 2,000 Filipinos in Sandakan City in Sabah detained for working there without proper documents.
He says once the deportation of prisoners is completed, the Malaysian government will go after overstaying foreign workers who walk free in Malaysia, many of whom are Filipinos.
Philippine officials have asked Malaysia to ensure that the deportation be orderly and humane.
There are about 200,000 Filipinos in Malaysia, while an average of 300 Filipinos are deported from Sabah to Zamboanga every week.
Meanwhile, a Malaysian has been arrested in the Philippines for allegedly trafficking people.
