5,300 Filipinos stranded in Sabah to be repatriated starting June 30

Around 5,300 Filipinos stranded in Sabah, Malaysia, are scheduled for repatriation starting June 30 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Presidential Peace Adviser Carlito Galvez Jr. announced that the first batch of 400 individuals will depart on June 30, with subsequent trips of 400 passengers every 15 days to avoid overcrowding.

Zamboanga-based Aleson Shipping Lines will provide the vessel for transport, ensuring social distancing measures are in place.

Returnees will undergo RT-PCR testing for COVID-19 prior to departure and upon arrival in Zamboanga City.

After their initial processing in Zamboanga City, they will be transported to their respective provinces for potential further quarantine.

Half of the repatriates are bound for Basilan, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi, 30% for the Zamboanga Peninsula, and the remaining 20% for other parts of the country.

The Inter-Agency Task Group Western Mindanao-Management of Returning Filipinos from Sabah (IATGWM-MREFS) is coordinating the repatriation efforts.