Filipinos stranded

PALU, Central Java: Eight Filipino traders who were stranded on Ogotua island, Central Sulawesi, have been detained by immigration authorities here.

The eight, originally from southern Philippines, but who are now living on Galam-Galam island, Sabah, Malaysia, were found last Nov. 1 after their boat ran out of fuel, their skipper, Akrab Aradani, 41, was quoted by Antara as saying Tuesday.

They were on their way to Sampurna island to buy goods which they traded back in Galam-Galam, Akrab said in fluent Indonesian.

He said an Ogotua villager found them and brought them to the local police station.

Akrab said he hoped they would soon be deported either to Galam-Galam in eastern Malaysia or to Bongau island in Tawi-Tawi, southern Philippines.

Their boat was confiscated by the Donggala police. (swe)