Manila: A Filipino sultan’s spokesman said 22 out of the 38 men arrested by the Philippine authorities in the south sea are members of their group.
Jamalul Kiram said the men left Sabah on two speedboats filled with firearms and the rest of the men are not part of their group.
Leonardo de Vera and a team of defence lawyers will represent the 22 men, Idjirani said.
The Philippine Navy arrested the armed men as they crossed the sea between Sabah and the south Philippines on Wednesday.
Cases for illegal possession of firearms, violation of the election gun ban and violation of Article 118 of the Revised Penal Code for Inciting to War or Giving Motives for reprisals would be filed against them before the Bongao, Tawi-Tawi Regional Trial Court, said Justice Secretary Leila de Lima.
Inquest proceedings against the 38 were held on Thursday. The 38 were earlier detained in a naval facility in Panlima, Tawi-Tawi. They will remain under the custody of the Philippine Navy as their case is being heard, De Lima said.
Other groups or individuals will be charged in court in connection with the ongoing tension in Sabah, said De Lima. She did not give details.
Jamalul Kiram allowed his brother Raja Mudda Agbimuddin Kiram and his 200 followers to occupy Tanduao village, Lahad Datu on February 9, to push for his family’s historical claim over Sabah, which dates back to 1650.
Clashes with Malaysian authorities which began on March 1, have killed almost 60, majority of the victims were Filipino Muslims. Almost 100 of them were also arrested, Malaysian authorities said.
Over 2,000 overseas Filipino workers employed at palm oil plantations and refineries in Sabah returned to their homes in the south, claiming they were harassed by Malaysian authorities. Majority of them are illegal foreign workers in Sabah.
