TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Indonesian Embassy (KBRI) in Manila will meet with the Philippine Department of Justice to discuss the handling of 177 Indonesian hajj pilgrims, who were arrested at Ninoy Aquino International Airport for using forged passport.

“I’ve been communicating with the KBRI Manila team and I was told that a meeting will be held with the Philippine Department of Justice at 2 PM Manila time,” Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi said Wednesday, August 31, 2016, at the Parliament building, Jakarta.

“We are still awaiting the meeting results,” she went on.

According to the Minister, the government can yet repatriate the 177 Indonesians, yet the urgency message of the repatriation has been sent to the Philippine authorities on the urgency of the repatriation.

The Indonesians are currently housed at the facilities provided by the KBRI in Manila before going through any legal process.

“In general, most of them are in good condition, the KBRI continues to provide logistics and medical aid,” Minister Retno said.

As many as 177 Indonesians were detained on August 19 at Ninoy Aquino International Airport, the Philippines, after being caught by the country’s immigration authorities for using forged Philippine passports.

The Indonesians used the Philippine hajj quota with help from seven travel agencies, namely PT Taskiah, PT Aulad Amin, PT Aulad Amin Tours Makassar, Shafwa Makassar Travel, Travel Hade El Barde, KBIH Arafah, KBIH Arafah Pandaan.

ANTARA