The Philippines continues to appeal to Malaysian authorities to allow the humanitarian ship it sent to dock in Sabah to treat those wounded in the firefights between Malaysian security forces and a Filipino sultan's followers who landed in Sabah last month, a Palace official on Wednesday said.
The ship, initially sent to bring back any women and children who had gone with the sultan's group to Sabah as well as provide medical assistance, set out from Tawi-Tawi on the night of Feb. 24 and has been on the border between the two countries for the last several days waiting for the green light from Malaysia to dock.
“We continue to make those appeals. We have made again several requests for full access, to give consular assistance, to treat the wounded, to have our ships come in,” Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte said in a briefing.
Valte added that the Malaysians continue to be wary of possible security concerns, should the ship dock.
“We are still waiting for word on what the reply to those appeals are. To my knowledge, until now they are still being considered in light of the security situation,” Valte said.
Despite a “close working relationship” with the Philippines, Malaysia has continued to disallow the docking of Philippine ships in the country.
However when asked if Malaysia’s refusal indicates a cooling of the two countries’ relationship, Valte clarified that the Philippine government did not initially ask for the ship to dock in Malaysian waters.
“We did not ask for the ship to dock at the beginning of this. We had asked for that, I think, a good two weeks after. And remember, on the side of the Philippine government and on the side of the Malaysian government, in those two weeks before the incident happened, we had been continuously appealing for a peaceful resolution,” Valte said.
Meanwhile, Valte defended Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario, saying that he did not call those holed up in Lahad Datu terrorists.
“Kinlaro po yan ni Secretary del Rosario kanina. And the DFA has already issued a statement that particular statement was taken out of context. The Secretary of Foreign Affairs did not call the people in Lahad Datu terrorists. Let’s make that clear. He did not make that statement,” Valte said, adding that del Rosario merely referred o acts desecrating and mutilating bodies as “terroristic acts.”
“Ang konteksto po ‘nung pag-uusap nila ay meron daw po kasing nakuhang report ‘yung Malaysian Foreign Minister tungkol doon sa nangyari sa Semporna. At meron nga daw pong mga Malaysian police na napatay doon at the bodies were apparently mutilated and desecrated. Those acts of mutilation and desecration of the bodies where referred to as terroristic acts. Hindi po sila tinawag na terorista ni Secretary del Rosario,” Valte said. — BM, GMA News
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