The Philippine government said Thursday it will exhaust legal means to save nine Filipinos from execution in Malaysia.
“Our Malaysia embassy team (is) meeting immediately with embassy lawyers to move for possible reconsideration of the verdict,” said Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Office of Migrant Workers Affairs Executive Director Raul Dado.
“Diplomatic initiatives will begin immediately both here and Manila,” Dado added.
Nine Filipinos were sentenced to death by the Court of Appeal of Malaysia Thursday for waging war against the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Malaysia’s king, in 2013. The nine were accused of armed incursion in Lahad Datu, Sabah that left at least 70 dead.
The nine are Datu Amirbahar Hushin Kiram, 54; Julham Rashid, 70; Virgilio Nemar Patulada @ Mohamad Alam Patulada, 53; Salib Akhmad Emali, 64; Tani Lahad Dahi, 64; Basad H. Manuel, 42; Atik Hussin Abu Bakar, 46; Al-Wazir Osman, 62, and Ismail Yasin, 77.
The incursion was part of an attempt by followers of the Sultan of Sulu to reclaim Sabah, which they consider their ancestral land. (PNA)
photo credit: Astro Awani
