The Department of Foreign Affairs on Friday advised Filipinos in Malaysia to always bring with them their legal documents after the Malaysian authorities warned of a possible crackdown on illegal migrants in that country, where 400,000 Filipinos live illegally.
In a statement, the DFA said Malaysian amnesty program for illegal immigrants which started in 2016 ended Aug. 30.
Many Filipinos are illegally working in Malaysia and those without immigration permits will be deported, the DFA warned.
The DFA said the Philippine Embassy in Malaysia had extended assistance to more than 5,000 Filipinos who have no legal papers or have been staying and working illegally in that country.
In January 2016, Malaysia urged illegal immigrants to avail themselves of the two-year amnesty but only about 5 percent of the estimated 400,000 undocumented Filipinos in Malaysia did.
“We are reminding our countrymen in Malaysia, particularly those without legal immigration status, that the amnesty program ends August 30,” Philippine Ambassador to Malaysia Charles Jose said in the statement.
Jose advised Filipinos who comply with Malaysian immigration requirements “to exercise due prudence and to ensure they carry their legal documents at all times.”
The Philippine Embassy “is ready to provide assistance to Filipinos, who may be affected by the intensified immigration operations,” Jose said.
Thousands of Filipinos illegally entered Malaysia through Borneo which is just several miles away from the Sulu archipelago.