Ship will bring back Pinoy civilians in Sabah standoff -- DFA

(Updated 7:36 p.m.) A ship will be dispatched Sunday night on a "humanitarian mission" to ferry back the women and other civilians among the 180-member group of Filipinos presently holed up in Lahad Datu, Sabah, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said in a statement Sunday.

According to the DFA, the ship, with hull number AT296, will sail from Bongao, Tawi-Tawi to the village of Tanduo in Lahad Datu.

The ship will be prepositioned offshore while talks with the group are underway, it added. Onboard the ship are Filipino-Muslim leaders as well as social workers and medical personnel.

DFA officials informed the Malaysian Embassy in Manila last Saturday about the dispatch of the ship.

"We sent the ship to Lahad Datu on a humanitarian mission. We are deeply concerned about the presence of five women and other civilians in the group, and we urge them to board the ship without delay and return home," Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert F. del Rosario said.

According to reports, there are about 180 individuals in the group, including some 30 armed escorts.
 
"As we have stated in countless occasions previously, we call on the entire group to go back to their homes and families, even at the same time we are addressing the core issues they have raised.  Please do so for your own safety," Del Rosario added. — Amanda Fernandez/BM, GMA News

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