MANILA, Philippines - A senior leader in Sulu belied reports that Malaysian authorities arrested 32 armed Filipinos entering Lahad Datu, Sabah to reinforce the Royal Sultanate Force (RSF) on Monday.
Malaysian state media Bernama, quoting the police commissioner in Sabah, reported that Filipinos from Mindanao armed with firearms and machetes arrested 12 nautical miles from the east coast of Lahad Datu.
“Hindi totoo yan na may nahuli sila doon sa mga nag-reinforce sa Sabah,†the Sulu-based source, who asked not to be named because he is currently occupying a sensitive government position.
He described Bernama’s news report as plain propaganda being dished out by Malaysian officials to make it appear that they are in total control of the security situation on the ground.
Closely monitoring the development in Sabah, the source pointed out that the current security situation in the area remains highly fragile as several groups of heavily armed men from Sulu, Tawi-Tawi and Basilan have been able to enter Sabah tgo reinforce the group of Raja Muda Agbimuddin Kiram.
“But a full-blown conflict in Sabah can still be reversed through peaceful dialogues between the Malaysian government and the Sulu Sultanate. Kung walang pag-uusap na mangyayari dyan, sasakit ang ulo ng Malaysian leadership dyan,†he said.
The Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) alswo said that not a single member of the group that sailed to Sabah without prior clearance to their leadership, has been arrested by Malaysian military and police authorities.
MNLF political bureau chief, Haji Gapul Hajirul stressed that it is not in the nature of Tausugs to just surrender. He said Tausugs would rather die fighting than allow themselves to be arrrested.
“Walang report na ganyan dito sa amin,†Hajirul said referring to the supposed arrest of their fighters, who have already sailed to Sabah to join the fighting.
MNLF Chairman Nur Misuari himself has formed a 5,000-strong rescue force, all of them under going retraining in Sulu prior to their deployment any time this month to Sabah, to assist and defend ordinary Filipinos being maltreated by Malaysian security forces.
The Sulu-based source, however, described Misuari’s posturing simply as a publicity stunt. The official said that only a handful MNLF members remain loyal to the chieftain.
“Wala na syang pwersa, papano niya gagawin 'yun? Gusto lang niyang magpapansin siguro,†the source said.