Philippines Presidential Palace: human rights violations on Filipinos in Sabah 'unacceptable'

Manila: The presidential palace expressed alarm over reports of abuses being carried out on Filipinos in Sabah as Malaysian security forces crack down on followers of Sulu Sultan Jamalul Kiram III.

“This is unacceptable,” deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte told government-run radio station dzRB Sunday, referring to reports of human rights violations carried out on Filipinos in Sabah.

Kiram III’s followers launched a campaign to enforce the Sulu Sultanate’s historical claim to the resource-rich territory last month and the drive had resulted in clashes with Malaysian security forces that has so far resulted in the deaths of at least 50 people, mostly members of Royal Army of the Sultanate of Sulu.

Over the past few days, there had been concerns over the worsening situation in Sabah as Filipino migrants in the territory flee from the fighting and the effects of the Malaysian government crackdown.

A report published by the Philippine Daily Inquirer from Zamboanga City said suspected members and sympathisers of Kiram III are being dragged out of their houses in Malaysia’s Sandakan as a result of the crackdown.

There also unconfirmed information that some men are being shot.

Thousands of Filipinos had lived in Sabah as migrant workers as it is just a few hours away by boat from Tawi-Tawi.

Meanwhile, authorities in Sulu, Tawi-Tawi and Zamboanga City are bracing for a possible humanitarian crisis as Filipinos in Sabah flock to return to Southern Philippines.

At least two boatloads carrying more than 100 Filipinos reportedly arrived in Tawi-Tawi’s Simunul from Lahad Datu on Saturday.

According to a report by the ABS-CBN Network, most of those who fled Sabah are children and women.

In Jolo, Sulu, at least 300 Filipinos from Sabah arrived on Saturday.