LAHAD DATU TERKINI - [1600HRS 22/2] : Tentera Laut Filipina tutup Laut Sulu

Philippine navy blocks Sulu Sea

February 22, 2013

The navy says this is to prevent more followers of the Sultan of Sulu entering Sabah.

MANILA: The Philippine Navy has sealed off the so-called southern backdoor to prevent the followers of the Sultan of Sulu province from traveling to Sabah, where a standoff between the sultanate’s followers and Malaysian security authorities persists.

The naval blockade was one of the measures taken by the Philippine government to prevent the escalation of the already tense situation, meant to ease the tension in and around Lahad Datu, where hundreds of Filipinos were holed up.

Lt. Commander Gregory Gerald Favic, Navy spokesman, on Thursday, said that six ships and an islander plane have been patrolling the Sulu Sea after Malaysian authorities reported the presence of loyal supporters of the sultanate. The group is headed by Raja Muda Azzimudie Kiram, a brother of Sultan Jamalul Kiram 3rd of Sulu.

LAHAD DATU TERKINI [22/2/13 - 1330HRS] - Kapal Tentera Laut Filipina Dikerah

Oleh MUGUNTAN VANAR

LAHAD DATU: Enam kapal tentera laut Filipina telah dikerahkan ke laut Sulu dan Tawi Tawi untuk menghalang kemungkinan berlakunya pertumpahan darah di antara pasukan keselamatan Malaysia dan kumpulan bersenjata Sultan Sulu yang melakukan pencerobohan.

Kapal-kapal ini hanya menjalankan rondaan di perairan pulau Tawi Tawi, pulau yang terletak kurang daripada setengah jam dari kampung Tandau, di tepi pantai di mana kumpulan dari Sulu itu berkurung sejak 9 Februari lalu, dengan menaiki bot laju.

Jurucakap tentera laut Filipina Lt Gregory Fabic dipetik sebagai berkata memberitahu media di Manila bahawa kapal tentera laut itu tidak akan berlabuh di perairan Sabah tetapi berada di sana untuk membantu memastikan keadaan stabil.