Tawi-Tawi Mayor, Supporters Detained in Sabah

Languyan Mayor Rommel Matba together with his running mates and cousin Amman Matba, police escort PO2 Hassan Bin Abdiullah and around 21 supporters of LP gubernatorial candidate, Norbert Sahali were detained at Sabah due to intrusion last Tuesday. According to the Philippine Government, the group was to campaign at Taganak or the Turtle Island when the engine of their motorized boat encountered problems during their travel. Strong waves made the boat drift near a coastal village in Sabah, Malaysia.

Following the order of President Aquino, Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto del Rosario appealed for the release of the detainees. There were other reports that the group was going to a town island Mapon to conduct their camapaign. Mapon is the venue for Filipinos who were displaced due to the fighting in Sabah.

Acting Gov. Mujiv Hataman of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao and Senior Superintendent Joselito Salido of Tawi-Tawi police said that the “group was rescued by the Malaysian maritime police and was not arrested.”

On Monday, a Malaysia state-run Bernama news agency reported an arrest of 32 suspected supporters of Sulu sultanate who were seen 12 nautical miles east of Lahad Datu coast.

The Philippine Coast Guard spokesperson, Lt. Cmdr. Jomark Angue said that the group was intercepted by a Malaysian maritime patrol for illegal entry.

Source: www.philstar.com