More than 200 Pinoys fleeing Sabah arrive in Tawi-Tawi

Another batch of Filipinos who were displaced by the clashes between Malaysian security forces and followers of Sulu Sultan Jamalul Kiram III in Sabah arrived in Tawi-Tawi Tuesday. The returnees numbered more than 200, though reports vary on the exact number. Philippine Army spokesman Maj. Harold Cabunoc said on his Twitter account that there were at least 233 people who arrived from Sabah. Citing initial information from the Department of Social Welfare and Development, he said 108 of the 233 are children. He added 75 of the displaced people are from Tawi-Tawi, 53 from Jolo, 44 from Basilan, and six from Zamboanga. "One woman who arrived from sabah has 13 children. One of her young daughters has a four-month-old child," he added. Meanwhile, a report on dzRH radio estimated the number of displaced persons who returned home at 271. It said they were aboard the Coast Guard vessel BRP Edsa Dos. The BRP Edsa Dos docked at Bongao Pier in Tawi-Tawi, it added. The dzRH report added one of the passengers gave birth aboard the ship, and that the returning Filipinos included 11 infants. Representatives from the DSWD, Department of Health and Philippine Red Cross were on hand to welcome the passengers, it added. Many Filipinos fled Sabah since Malaysian security forces started offensive operations against Kiram's followers last March 5. The offensives stemmed from deadly clashes between Kiram's followers and Malaysian forces March 1 and 2. — BM, GMA News