The Philippine Navy said it has detained 35 suspected Filipino militants yesterday as they tried to sail home from a military offensive against them in Sabah. They are thought to be remnants of a band of up to 300 followers of a self-proclaimed Filipino sultan who entered Sabah a month ago to stake a territorial claim on the area, regional military chief Rey Ardo said. He said, “They were coming back (home) … they are armed."
The self-styled Sultan of Sulu vowed his men would not leave until Malaysia recognised their territorial claims. However, after a stand-off that lasted more than two weeks, Malaysian security forces launched a major operation against the gunmen.
Navy spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel Gregory Fabic said the 35 people detained yesterday were on two small boats that were intercepted by two navy patrol vessels on the Philippines side of the sea border with Malaysia. They were sailing to a Philippine island about 60 kilometers from the area of Sabah.
Fabic and Ardo said there were 34 men and one woman aboard the boats, both of which carried guns. Ardo said one of the men was injured, possibly from the Sabah clashes.