Negotiations over, Philippine nationals in process of being sent home — Police

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KOTA KINABALU: Police are in the process of deporting a group of Philippine nationals, who intruded into Lahad Datu on Tuesday, back to the Philippines.

Sabah police commissioner Datuk Hamza Taib said police had ended negotiations with the group and was now focusing on deporting them.

“We have told them we cannot entertain them because they chose the wrong platform to voice what they want.

“So, now we can only carry out the process of sending them back so that they can find a suitable channel to air their demands,” he told reporters after carrying out checks on the Ops Selamat traffic safety operation in conjunction with the Chinese New Year at Jesseltion Point, here, yesterday.

When asked when the group would be sent home, Hamza said: “As soon as possible.”

Prior to this, the group had demanded that they be recognised as the Royal Soldiers of the Sultanate of Sulu and they did not want citizens of Sulu origin in Sabah to be sent back to the Philippines. — Bernama