The Philippine government has despatched a ship on humanitarian mission to ferry back a group of 180 members, including 30 armed escorts, which has been holed up in Lahad Datu, Sabah since Feb 12.
Bearing hull number AT296, the vessel sailed from Bongao, Tawi-Tawi to the Tanduo village in Lahad Datu where it is prepositioned off-shore while talks with the group are underway tonight.
Notification of the ship's despatch was conveyed by the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) yesterday, to the Malaysian Embassy in Manila.
In a statement issued by the DFA, its Foreign Affairs Secretary, Albert F del Rosario, urged the group to return to their homes and families, "even at the same time we are addressing the core issues they have raised".
He urged them to do so for their own safety.
On the ship, del Rosario said: "We are deeply concerned over the presence of five women and other civilans in the group, and we urge them to board the ship without delay and return home.
According to the statement, onboard the ship are Filipino-Muslim leaders, as well as social workers and medical personnel.
On Feb 12, boats ferrying over 100 armed men wearing military fatigues landed on Lahad Datu's shores.
The group had demanded to be recognised as the Royal Soldiers of the Sultanate of Sulu, and did not want citizens of Sulu origin in Sabah to be sent back to the Philippines.
The soldiers have been holed up at the village for the past two weeks, and the Malaysian Government gave last Friday (Feb 22) as the deadline to leave.
However, the deadline was extended by 48 hours after the Philippine Government requested for a four-day extension till Tuesday on the grounds that Manila was trying to persuade the Sulu group to give up their stand.
- Bernama
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