The evacuees, from different parts of Sabah, left Sandakan in small boats.
BONGAO (Tawi-Tawi ): The Philippine Navy has sent a vessel to fetch more than 400 Filipinos who have fled Sabah to escape a crackdown by Malaysian authorities and being caught up in the violence between followers of the sultanate of Sulu and security forces.
The evacuees, from different areas in Sabah, left Sandakan in small vessels and sailed for Taganak Island in the Turtle Islands and are without food because they fled hurriedly.
They are expected to reach here tonight after being fetched by the navy.
They will be the second major batch of Filipinos who have fled Sabah since Friday’s arrival here of 125 evacuees.
The initial information relayed by the evacuees said many more Filipinos, including those with identification cards issued by Malaysia, have decided to flee Sabah to avoid the crackdown after authorities there confirmed rounding up suspected sympathizers of the Sulu sultanate.
In Sabah, police commissioner Hamza Taib confirmed the detention of 97 people so far under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 as “Ops Daulat”, the operation to flush out the sultanates followers, entered its seventh day today, independent news site Malaysiakini reported.
Hamza said the detainees are believed to have links to the “royal Sulu army”.
“As the Inspector-General of police [Ismail Omar] has said, the investigations will be carried under Section 130(c) of Sosma,” he told a press conference at Felda Sahabat Beach Resort, Lahat Datu, this morning.
- Agencies
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