Pinoys in Sabah standoff getting food from abandoned homes — report
With their food supplies running out, the group of Filipinos in Sabah claiming to be followers of the Sultan of Sulu are coping by "living off" houses abandoned by local villagers, a Malaysian news site reported Thursday.
But a report on Malaysia's The Star online said the Filipinos claimed they were "all fine" despite the land and sea blockade by Malaysian security forces.
"Reports had emerged from Tanduo that the group was living off from whatever was left behind by villagers who fled their homes when the Sulu intruders landed on Feb. 9," the report said.
It added the Malaysian security forces are "holding their fire" pending orders to deport the Filipinos.
The group had engaged Malaysian forces in a standoff since early February.
On Wednesday, the group remained defiant after a "deadline" for them to leave peacefully by midnight Tuesday lapsed. Philippine officials have since sought a deadline extension.
'Further negotiations'
The report also said the Filipinos were open to "further negotiations" with Malaysian officials but group leader Raja Muda Azzimudie Kiram said this should be between the Malaysian government and the Sulu sultanate.
Raja Muda Azzimudie Kiram is the brother of self-proclaimed Sulu Sultan Jamalul Kiram III.
Malaysia's The Star cited a phone interview with Azzimudie where he said, “(a)ll negotiations have to go through my brother in Manila. The final line is my brother.”
He added the talks are "between the Sultanate of Sulu and the Government of Malaysia. They must negotiate with the Sultan.”
Also, he stressed his readiness to reopen negotiations does not mean he has softened his stance.
“Our demands remain the same. In short, Sabah is owned by the Sultan of Sulu. I will stay here as long as my brother says I must,” he said. — LBG, GMA News
But a report on Malaysia's The Star online said the Filipinos claimed they were "all fine" despite the land and sea blockade by Malaysian security forces.
"Reports had emerged from Tanduo that the group was living off from whatever was left behind by villagers who fled their homes when the Sulu intruders landed on Feb. 9," the report said.
It added the Malaysian security forces are "holding their fire" pending orders to deport the Filipinos.
The group had engaged Malaysian forces in a standoff since early February.
On Wednesday, the group remained defiant after a "deadline" for them to leave peacefully by midnight Tuesday lapsed. Philippine officials have since sought a deadline extension.
'Further negotiations'
The report also said the Filipinos were open to "further negotiations" with Malaysian officials but group leader Raja Muda Azzimudie Kiram said this should be between the Malaysian government and the Sulu sultanate.
Raja Muda Azzimudie Kiram is the brother of self-proclaimed Sulu Sultan Jamalul Kiram III.
Malaysia's The Star cited a phone interview with Azzimudie where he said, “(a)ll negotiations have to go through my brother in Manila. The final line is my brother.”
He added the talks are "between the Sultanate of Sulu and the Government of Malaysia. They must negotiate with the Sultan.”
Also, he stressed his readiness to reopen negotiations does not mean he has softened his stance.
“Our demands remain the same. In short, Sabah is owned by the Sultan of Sulu. I will stay here as long as my brother says I must,” he said. — LBG, GMA News
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