“The safety and security of Filipino migrant workers will be protected. We will exert all efforts to ensure this.”

This was the statement of Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Judy M. Taguiwalo as reports have come in that Sabah will begin to deport illegal immigrants from the Philippines in the thousands using the Malaysian Royal Navy assets this coming February.

News reports have quoted Malaysian Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman that preparations for the mass deportation began to be finalized after the finalization of the agreement between Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and President Rodrigo Duterte last November.

Pres. Duterte has agreed to give his full cooperation to Malaysia. For its part, Malaysia has committed to loan its naval ships to deport Filipinos with no legal documentation. According to Malaysian reports, the deportation centers in Sabah have already exceeded their capacity with more than 7,000 undocumented migrants inside.

The process of deportation will be via the Sandakan Port to Zamboanga.

“Pres. Duterte has said that our kababayans in Malaysia who stand to be deported will not be encouraged to seek clemency. Instead, they will be assisted during the process of deportation to ensure that their return to the Philippines will be as smooth as possible. The DSWD is one of the agencies that will work to help ensure this,” said Sec. Taguiwalo.

Sec. Taguiwalo reiterated Pres. Duterte’s statement in November that the 7,000 undocumented Filipino workers who will be deported will be given access to healthcare and education. Pres. Duterte has also earlier said that he will appeal to neutral agencies such as the World Health Organization (WHO) to help build a hospital for Filipino migrants. He said Filipino medical personnel will be deployed to these health facilities to assist in the provision of services.

“For our part, our Protective Services Bureau (PSB), DSWD-Field Office 9 and the DSWD-Field Office in the ARMM are already in the process of putting together a plan of action to help our kababayans. We will provide them with assistance that is within the means of the department to ensure that their immediate economic needs are met,” she said.

Sec. Taguiwalo said that the returning Filipinos will be given food and medical assistance, as well as information on other DSWD services they can utilize as they begin their new lives in the Philippines.

This coming Feb. 12, the DSWD International Social Services Office (ISSO) through Social Welfare Attache Bernard Bonina in Kuala Lumpur has informed Sec. Taguiwalo that two Filipino children who have been scheduled for deportation from Malaysia be escorted to the Philippines instead. The two children – siblings Jerrimy Bacsal, 4, and Jennica, 3, will be flown to the Philippines by the social welfare attache’, who will then coordinate with local DSWD units to ensure the safe and secure turnover of the children to their father who is based in the Philippines. ###