Philippines probes death of 3 youths in Sabah

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Embassy in Kuala Lumpur is looking into the deaths of three Filipino youths during an operation against undocumented individuals last March 21.

The Eastern Sabah Security Command (ESSCOM) conducted the said immigration operations at the Lahad Datu public market.

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Monday announced that a three-person team was sent to Lahad Datu to look into the incident.

The three victims, who were brothers, were identified as Nording Akang, 16, Lahudin Nasir, 17 and Alex Nasir, 18, of Kampung Bakau, Lahad Datu.

According to reports from Malaysian news sites, the three brothers suffocated when they hid in a narrow space under the market while the raid was ongoing.

The consulate team met with the relatives of the victims on Sunday afternoon. The team also consulted the ESSCOM and police authorities last Monday morning and asked for a full, impartial investigation.

"The Philippine Embassy is deeply concerned about this turn of events, and even as the cause of the deaths of the three Filipinos, two of whom are minors, are being investigated, the Embassy calls for humane treatment of undocumented individuals, including the manner by which operations are conducted," The DFA said in a statement.