Stranded workers sent home

TERNATE, North Maluku: The Indonesian consulate office in Davao, Philippines, said the 23 people from Morotai whose ship went missing last month have been found and subsequently sent home.

The 23 people were aboard MV Asri Utama Lamusu, the vessel reported missing Sept. 6 off Morotai Island. They were rescued by Filipino fishermen and brought to Davao, Antara reported.

Consul General in Davao, Asmardi Arbi, said Monday the 23 Indonesians were put on a fishing boat owned by a Filipino company in General Santos City in Mindanao and were taken to Bitung Port in North Sulawesi.

From Bitung, they will be transferred to another fishing boat owned by state-owned ferry company PT Angkutan Sungai Danau dan Penyeberangan (PT ASDP) and will be brought here.

There were 30 passengers, including a baby born on board, when the ship went missing. Six passengers died of starvation, including the baby.

The news agency did not say how long the boat had been adrift before it was rescued, or who the passengers were and what was their destination. But Arbi said the passengers were treated well during their stay in General Santos City.

He also said that nine Indonesian fishermen, whose boat entered Philippine waters Sept. 7, will soon be sent back to Toli-Toli in Southeast Sulawesi. (swe)