ARMM exec seeks probe on Malaysian 'abuses'

COTABATO CITY, Philippines -  A senior member of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao government has urged  the national government to look into allegations by ethnic Maguindanaons residing in Sabah of abuses by the Malaysian police and military.

“There is a small community of ethnic Iranuns and Maguindanaons there, from the province of Maguindanao and we have been receiving unverified reports of them allegedly being maltreated by Malaysian uniformed men,” said ARMM Assemblyman Khadafy Mangudadatu.

Mangudadatu is one of three representatives of the second district of Maguindanao to the ARMM’s Regional Legislative Assembly.

“These are unverified reports. Even then, we’re bothered. We have to look into these reports,” Mangudadatu told reporters.

The ARMM’s Regional Human Rights Commission earlier said it already started documenting statements of Filipino evacuees from Sabah that complained of maltreatment by Malaysian policemen and soldiers. - John Unson