Malaysian authorities arrest Tawi-Tawi mayor, gubernatorial candidate and supporters

From the Philippine News Agency (Apr 10): Malaysian authorities arrest Tawi-Tawi mayor, gubernatorial candidate and supporters

Twenty-four people, including a town mayor, a candidate for governor and a policeman, were arrested by Malaysian authorities for illegal entry in Lahad Datu, Sabah, a Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) official disclosed Wednesday.

Among those arrested on Tuesday were Mayor Rommel Matba of Languyan, Tawi-Tawi, gubernatorial candidate Rashidin Matba and Police Officer 2 (PO2) Hassan Abdillah, the mayor’s security escort, according to PCG Southwestern Mindanao spokesman Lieutenant Junior Grade Jomark Angue.

The identities of the 21 others, who were supporters of the gubernatorial candidate, were not immediately known, Angue said.

Angue said the group was aboard a wooden-hulled ferry en route to a political campaign in Taganak, Turtle Islands Municipality coming from Languyan town when big waves swept them away from their original course of navigation.

They were intercepted and arrested by Malaysian Marine police for illegal in the vicinity of 12 nautical miles, Tambis point, Lahad Datu, Sabah, around 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Angue disclosed.

The Malaysian authorities towed the ferry to Sandakan, Sabah, for custody and investigation, he added.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=515045