Filipinos deported from Manado

MANADO, North Sulawesi: The local immigration bureau has deported 12 Filipinos for violating immigration rules, the head of the local Justice Ministry, Freddy Gerung, said here yesterday.

He said that four of the 12 were initially detained in Palu, Central Sulawesi and the rest by the Sorong, Irian Jaya immigration bureau.

"From early December until their repatriation they were quarantined at the Manado immigration bureau," he was quoted by Antara as saying.

According to Gerung, it is easier to repatriate Filipinos through Manado than other places because the Consulate General of the Philippines is located here.

From January through to December 1997, Gerung said, Manado immigration repatriated 142 foreigners for violating immigration laws. Most of the violators were from the Philippines. (swe)