"It needs to be underlined that they are victims of organized crime," Foreign Minister Retno LP Marsudi told reporters on Tuesday.

The Indonesian nationals are currently held in a detention center in Manila for allegedly posing as Filipinos on their way to Mecca, Saudi Arabia, with illegally obtained Philippine passports.

The Indonesian Embassy in Manila had so far verified the identities of 144 people based on data from the Immigration Management and Information System (SIMKIM), Retno said.

The minister confirmed in talks with the ambassador in Manila, Johny Lumintang, that similar cases had happened before. The government was prioritizing maximum protection for its citizens, she added.

The Law and Human Rights Ministry’s director general for immigration, Ronny Sompie, said the passports had been issued in the Philippines.

Muhammad Yasin, the Religious Affairs Ministry’s inspector general responsible for the haj, said the Indonesian citizens were unlikely to face legal consequences upon their return, as they were victims of fraud to illegal travel agents. He acknowledged that the long waiting list for the haj could have prompted the people to take the seemingly easy and quick path.

Yasin urged the public to be more cautious in choosing travel agents for the haj or umrah and only use services from 693 umrah travel operators (PPIU) and 269 haj operators (PIHK) listed on the ministry's website.

The Religious Affairs Ministry would continue to work with the National Police to pursue illegal travel agents, Yasin added. (rin)

Popular

Indonesia not affected by Southeast Asia-wide heat wave: BMKG

Residents fear for safety as Mount Ruang volcano erupts

In defense of Indonesian democracy