Three more Filipinas abused in Sabah

Malaysian policemen allegedly raped three Filipinas in a detention centre in Sabah, a Filipino-Muslim told government lawyers upon her arrival in Tawi-Tawi, southern Philippines.

"My three friends, Jenny, Angie, and Joyce were raped by the Malaysian policemen," a woman named Grace told Perida Acosta, head of the Public Attorney's Office.

"They were forced. They were brought to a place far away from the detention centre. They could not say no because their attackers were policemen," said Grace, whose family name was not revealed.

Grace, Marivic, and Rosa narrated horrifying tales about the detention centres in Sabah.
"I have not seen the women who were raped again. Maybe they were left behind in the detention centre," she revealed.

Earlier, one of those deported said seven policemen made two Filipino women virtual sex slaves in a detention centre in Tuwao, Sabah.

"I was so angry with Nur Jafaar (head of the government delegation) who told President Gloria Arroyo that our condition at the detention centre had improved after their arrival," said Grace.

"What was he talking about? We told him that we were forced to stay under the sun from 10 to 12 noon before we were given food," said Grace.

"We were given rotten and worm-infested food. We could hardly eat the food that was served to us".

Grace said she suffered from partial deafness in the left ear because she was often chained and mauled by the Malaysian policemen. "They punished me for being outspoken."

Acosta said she was glad that many of the deported women have expressed their willingness to give statements on how they were treated at the detention centres in Sabah.

"We are getting more statements from them. They are not shy any more. We need more assistance," noted Acosta.

Her team was tasked with substantiating reports that the Filipino-Muslims were raped, maltreated, and not given food while detained prior to their deportation from Sabah.

The government lawyers are now preparing to gather data on reported deaths of babies and teenagers due to malnutrition and congestion in the detention areas, sources said.

The Philippine government will continue to gather its own evidence for the purpose of filing complaints before the United Nations Human Rights Commission, said foreign affairs spokesman, Victoriano Lecaros.

Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohammed had called for the investigation of the alleged rape of a 13-year-old Filipino girl by Malaysian police at the detention centre in Kota Kinabalu.

Arroyo has also set up the legislative and executive council which was tasked with gathering evidence on cases of abuse and maltreatment committed by the Malaysian authorities against deported Filipinos in Sabah.

The Philippines will use the investigation made in Malaysia, and with the statements of the deported Filipino-Muslims to bring the issue before the UN body, said Lecaros.

The council has yet to decide whether it will send the 13-year-old rape victim to Malaysia to file the complaint or just take a deposition, either written or oral.

Commission on Human Rights (CHR) chairman, Purificacion Quisumbing, noted Malaysia has violated three conventions on the reported maltreatment of the deported Filipinos by its police authorities.

The UN conventions include the declaration on human rights, convention on the rights of the child and the convention on the elimination of discrimination and abuse against women.

The CHR initiative is an independent move and not in coordination with the action of the other government agencies, said Quisumbing.

Hundreds of thousands of deported Filipinos were forcibly thrown out of Malaysia, following a new immigration law that imposes stiff penalties on illegal migrants.

The Philippine government has filed two consecutive diplomatic protests against Malaysia and Arroyo sent a note to Mahathir when she learned about the rape of the 13-year-old Filipino girl.