Pinoy roundup in Sabah assailed

Rep. Ernesto Herrera (Lakas, Bohol) denounced yesterday the recent arrest by Malaysian authorities of more than 600 suspected Filipino illegal immigrants in Sabah, saying the move was made in retaliation to the Sipadan island resort kidnapping.

"This is not acceptable behavior for any civilized nation, much less from a fellow Asean member and neighbor," Herrera said.

He said Malaysian police rounded up the suspected illegal immigrants on Mabul island shortly after 21 people, including foreigners, were abducted in nearby Sipadan island.

Quoting Immigration Commissioner Rufus Rodriguez, the former senator said the detained Filipinos have been "treated badly."

"They were herded like cattle, were not given water for an entire day and have not been fed properly," Herrera said. "Most of them are women and children who could not have been involved in any manner with the Sipadan kidnapping."

He pointed out that despite the alleged maltreatment of Filipinos, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has chosen to remain silent.

"There is no reason for foreign affairs officials to sit on their behinds and do nothing," Herrera said. "They should file a diplomatic protest and call on the Malaysian ambassador to explain his government's actions."

Earlier, Rodriguez dismissed the assertion of Kuala Lumpur's ambassador to Manila that the arrests in Sabah were not in any way a retaliation for the kidnapping.

In a letter to Ambassador M.H. Arshad, he insisted the roundup of Filipinos could hardly be called coincidental since it took place barely two days after the Sipadan incident.

"Your assurances do not jibe with pronouncements of your police authorities that the 600 Filipinos were arrested for questioning in connection with the kidnapping," Rodriguez stated in the letter.

The immigration chief said he was disturbed that the Filipinos, mostly women and children, were considered by Malaysian police as suspects in the abduction.

He also disputed the ambassador's claim that the roundup was part of Kuala Lumpur's campaign against illegal aliens, and that Manila has always been informed of the deportation of undocumented Filipinos in Sabah.

Rodriguez described the incident as "a breach of camaraderie" among members of the regional group, saying Malaysia "disregarded the basic courtesy required by our common Asean spirit and solidarity."

At the same time, the immigration chief defended his decision to deny entry to 23 Malaysians who arrived last month with group visas at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

He explained the Malaysians were refused entry for not carrying individual passports and for merely presenting a collective travel document not registered with or recognized by the DFA.

"The rounding up of 600 Filipinos and herding them like cattle is definitely different from the case of the 23 Malaysians," Rodriguez said.