Department of Foreign Affairs spokesman Raul Hernandez. INQUIRER.NET FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has sent another note verbale to the Malaysian Embassy Friday morning “strongly requesting” for the Filipino diplomatic team in Sabah to be given full access to the apprehended members of the Sulu “royal army.”
“This morning we sent a note verbale to the Malaysian embassy to strongly request that the Philippine embassy team in Lahad Datu be given full acess to the 10 members of the Raja Muda Kiram group apprehended by the Malaysian authorities,” DFA spokesman Raul Hernandez told reporters Friday.
The note verbale also called on the Malaysian government to “give humane treatment to the Filipinos under their custody,” he said.
Raja Muda is the brother of Sulu Sultan Jamalul Kiram III who ordered his men to sail to Sabah on February 9 and reclaim what they insist is their rightful territory.
The 10 supporters of the Sultanate of Sulu were reportedly arrested after the air and ground assault by Malaysian authorities in Tanduao Village, Lahad Datu Tuesday that sought to end the three week standoff.
Several casualties were reported by Malaysian media from the Sulu “royal army” while the remaining members of the group managed to elude capture and are still being hunted by Malaysian authorities.
Sultan Kiram had declared a unilateral ceasefire Thursday heeding a call by the United Nations to end the violence. Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak however had rejected the ceasefire and called for the unconditional surrender of the group.
The DFA likewise reiterated their call for the group to lay down their arms and withdraw from Sabah “in order to prevent further loss of lives and bloodshed.”