More Filipinos sail from Sabah

Hundreds of illegal workers from the Philippines left for home from Malaysia's Sandakan port yesterday as a Philippine team criss-crossed the Malaysian state of Sabah and President Gloria Arroyo asked the social welfare department to look into reports of "sexual abuse of women in the deportation camps in Sabah".

"We would like to ask that this matter (abuse of women) be handled prudently by the media to protect the dignity of any victims," said Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye.

He added that the presidential palace has not yet received an official report on the matter.

Meanwhile, parish priest Father Rito Daquipil of Bongao, Tawi-Tawi, southern Philippines, urged the Philippine government to do something about the alleged sex slavery spawned by Malaysian policemen at the detention centre in Taua, Sabah, the Inquirer said.

"The victims are ashamed to relate their experience," said.

At the same time, provincial social welfare officer Hania Aliakbar said in Tawi-Tawi: "We cannot prove these allegations unless somebody is brave enough to admit her ordeal."

She confirmed having heard stories about the abuse.

Earlier, Mohsin Akbirul, who was deported from South Laud, Sulu, told reporters that around seven men allegedly preyed on deported Filipinos.

Akbirul also named two women as the victims of the policemen in Tauao.

Philippine authorities also called for the investigation of reports that Malaysian authorities allegedly burned the homes of 3,000 illegal Filipinos in Sandakan.

The Inquirer published a picture of the Filipino children against the backdrop of burned homes along the shore of Sandakan.

The Philippine government sent a nine-man mission to the three detention centres in Sabah on Monday to look into reports that many Filipinos were harshly treated at the three detention centres in Sandakan, Tauau and Kota Kinabalu.

About 450 men, women and children remained stranded aboard Philippine navy and coast guard ships, which were docked at Sandakan Bay, because of the investigation undertaken by the Philippine team.

"We've been wanting to go home, but we have to wait and wait. We're dying here," said Rizma Watari, a mother of two.

A child suffering from serious dehydration, two others who have chicken pox, and four who are suffering from malnutrition, were confined at a hospital in Sandakan, said volunteers in their report to the Manila office of the health department.

"In the two ships that are about to leave for Mindanao, the weak and the sick infants and mothers were isolated. Most of the patients are children younger than four years old.

There are 14 of them, two in critical dehydration caused by amoebiosis and malnutrition," said Dr Fran Fernandez, a physician on board the coast guard ship.

The ships should have left Malaysia two days ago. They are for a group of 500 at Sandakan who will be allowed to leave Sabah for southern Philippines.

There will be no more deportation until the nine-man Philippine team finishes its work by September 5.

Three infants have died while at the detention centre in Sandakan. Dozens were hospitalised for dehydration, malnutrition and illnesses contracted at the detention camps.

Meanwhile, the Philippine team discovered that there was no food supply at the detention centres, said a member of the Philippine team who refused to be named.

In Manila, Justice Secretary, Hernando Perez has ordered Justice Undersecretary Merceditas Gutierrez to study the various complaints raised by the deported Filipinos.

In Davao City, southern Philippines, Mayor Rodrigo Duterte welcomed the entry of these Filipinos saying: "If they want to come here, they are welcome even if it will mean a crowded city. We will try to cope with the situation. They can find solace in our arms."

The Philippine team called on the head of Sabah state to allow the Philippine government to process the travel papers of undocumented Filipino workers intending to return to Sabah at the three departure centres in Sabah.

Sabah Chief Minister Chong Kah Kiat said in Malaysia: "Basically, the request from the Philippine president is for Malaysia to halt the deportation process of Filipino nationals to give them the opportunity to see how the immigrants were treated while in detention. We will give full cooperation. They will visit the three detention centres in Sabah. There is no ill-treatment."

But the crackdown on undocumented immigrants continues, Chong added.

Around 80,000 more undocumented Filipinos remain in Sabah. About 20,000 have been expelled since January.