LAHAD DATU: A report that 35 suspected foreign militants have been detained by the Philippines navy is being investigated by Tawi-Tawi provincial officials.
“We have no confirmation yet. We are verifying it,” Tawi-Tawi governor Sadikul Sahali told The Star by telephone from Bongoa.
He said that so far, up to 600 evacuees had returned from Sandakan and Semporna and they were not involved with the militants.
AFP quoted a senior Philippines navy official as saying that the navy had detained 35 suspected foreign militants yesterday as they sought to sail home from the Malaysian security offensive in Lahad Datu.
Philippines regional military chief Rey Ardo said they believed the 35 to be remnants of a band of up to 300 militants who followed their leader Raja Muda Azzimuddie Kiram to Sabah.
“They were coming back (home) ... they are armed,” Lieutenant-General Ardo said on ABS-CBN television, confirming less detailed reports of their arrest by the Philippine navy.
He said one of the men was wounded, believed to be a result of the clashes in Sabah.
Source:
http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2013/3/14/nation/12835548&sec=nation
