ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines - Thousands of Tausug from Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi have sailed to Sabah to reinforce members of the so-called royal army of the sultanate of Sulu who are fighting it out with Malaysian security forces, a Moro National Liberation Front official said Tuesday.
"We can no longer prevent our people. We are hurt and many of our people, even the non-combatants, are going to Sabah to help the sultanate," Habib Hashim Mudjahab, chair of the MNLF's Islamic Council Committee, told the Philippine Daily Inquirer by phone.
But Lt. Gen, Rey Ardo, chief of the military's Western Mindanao Command, said they have not monitored reports of reinforcements trying to enter Sabah.
"But we cannot avoid that some residents who have relatives in Malaysia would react to the situation," he said.
Acting Gov. Mujib Hataman of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao also denied receiving reports about reinforcements for the "Royal Army."
Mudjahab said at least 10,000 Tausug from Basilan, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi and Zamboanga on Monday night started to reinforce the followers of Sultan Jamalul Kiram III now holed up in a coastal village in Sabah via the Philippines' so-called "southern backdoor," a route regular traders are familiar with.
He said the reinforcements "sailed in small numbers so they can easily penetrate Sabah unnoticed."
'It is about pride and honor, and our people are ready to sacrifice.'
"The naval blockade is of no use; our military should have known that. We did that before at the height of Marcos regime. We can easily go to Sabah and blend with the people there," he added. He was referring to a naval blockade thrown up by the Philippine Navy and Coast Guard to ensure armed sympathizers do not joined the beleaguered men in Sabah as reinforcements.
"We can no longer prevent our people. We are hurt and many of our people, even the non-combatants, are going to Sabah to help the sultanate," Habib Hashim Mudjahab, chair of the MNLF's Islamic Council Committee, told the Philippine Daily Inquirer by phone.
But Lt. Gen, Rey Ardo, chief of the military's Western Mindanao Command, said they have not monitored reports of reinforcements trying to enter Sabah.
"But we cannot avoid that some residents who have relatives in Malaysia would react to the situation," he said.
Acting Gov. Mujib Hataman of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao also denied receiving reports about reinforcements for the "Royal Army."
Mudjahab said at least 10,000 Tausug from Basilan, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi and Zamboanga on Monday night started to reinforce the followers of Sultan Jamalul Kiram III now holed up in a coastal village in Sabah via the Philippines' so-called "southern backdoor," a route regular traders are familiar with.
He said the reinforcements "sailed in small numbers so they can easily penetrate Sabah unnoticed."
'It is about pride and honor, and our people are ready to sacrifice.'
"The naval blockade is of no use; our military should have known that. We did that before at the height of Marcos regime. We can easily go to Sabah and blend with the people there," he added. He was referring to a naval blockade thrown up by the Philippine Navy and Coast Guard to ensure armed sympathizers do not joined the beleaguered men in Sabah as reinforcements.
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