TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi said that the 177 Indonesian hajj pilgrims, who have been detained by the Philippine's immigration office at Manila airport for using fake passports, are victims of an organized crime.

"First, I have to say that our brothers and sisters [hajj pilgrims] are the victims of an organized crime," said Minister Retno on Tuesday, August 23, 2016, in Jakarta, as quoted by Antara news agency.

Minister Retno also said that she has made contact with Filipino Ministry of Foreign Affairs, requesting for special attention on the 177 Indonesian hajj pilgrims, while pointing out that they are the victims of a crime.

"I made contact with the Filipino Ministry of Foreign Affairs yesterday. I talked with the undersecretary to convey my request on paying special attention [to the hajj pilgrims] in this particular case," Retno said.

Moreover, the Indonesian Foreign Ministry said that they will continue to work closely with the Justice and Human Rights Ministry, Religious Affairs Ministry and the Indonesian National Police to repatriate the 177 Indonesian nationals.

"We have been verifying [the data of hajj pilgrims] in the past few days with the immigration office in Manila, accompanied by the Indonesian Embassy. The [Indonesian] Foreign Ministry has deployed additional personnel to help our brothers and sisters yesterday," Retno said on Tuesday, August 23, 2016.

Retno said that 144 out of 177 detained hajj pilgrims had matched with data listed in the Immigration Information Management System (SIMKIM).

"Data of 144 out of 177 Indonesian hajj pilgrims matched with the SIMKIM; as for the rest, we will continue to verify them," Retno said.

ANTARANEWS