ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines - - Apprehensive of possible abuses from the hands of Malaysian authorities, Filipinos continued to flee Sabah.
The latest batch of Filipinos, 128, arrived in Taganak islands, Tawi-Tawi province. The Philippine Navy assisted the latest batch of Filipinos from Sabah, the military said.
The refugees were immediately transported by the navy’s BRP Apolinario Mabini and arrived here Friday, said Col. Rodrigo Gregorio, chief of the civil-military operation and spokesman of Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom).
He said the navy patrol ship initially anchored in Jolo and unloaded 55 of the 128 refugees who were natives of Sulu. The vessel then proceeded to Majini pier at Naval Station Espaldon, home of Naval Forces Western Mindanao (NFWM) in this city.
Gregorio said the rest of the displaced civilians were immediately provided assistance by the Task Force Basulta (Basilan, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi) and brought to the processing center for displaced persons of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) regional office based this city.
The National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council said some 5,000 Filipinos fled Sabah following the conflict sparked by a standoff when followers of Sulu Sultanate went to Lahad Datu to stake their claim over Sabah since February.
The navy and police in Tawi-Tawi have been guarding the waters of the Philippines near the border to prevent followers of the sulu sultanate from reinforcing the group of Raja Muda Agbimuddin Kiram, younger brother of Jamalul, who is being pursued by Malaysian forces. - Roel Pareño