Philippines revives claim over Sabah

The Philippines is reviving its claim over the island of Sabah following Malaysia's action against an estimated 300,000 Filipinos illegally staying there.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo said the government is negotiating with Malaysia over which country should have sovereignty over Sabah.

He, however, admitted that an advisory has been released to the Filipinos there to avail themselves of the extended immigration amnesty to avoid deportation.

Sabah or North Borneo, was originally part of the Sultanate of Sulu, southern Philippines. It was leased to a British trader in 1878 and later became a British protectorate. In 1963, Great Britain relinquished Sabah which joined the Federal Republic of Malaysia.

President Gloria Arroyo's father, President Diosdado Macapagal, laid claim to Sabah in 1962 after the Sultan of Sulu gave the government authority to pursue the claim.