KOTA KINABALU: Sabah police are still awaiting updates from the Philippine authorities regarding the detention of Chinese tourists and Malaysians who were found entering Philippine waters illegally last Sunday.
Sabah police commissioner Datuk Jauteh Dikun said that they have not yet received any new information concerning the case.
"The police respect the actions taken by the Philippine authorities against individuals from this country who were found to have entered their territory illegally.
"As of now, we have not received any further information from the Philippine authorities, and the latest development aligns with the statement made by the Home Minister, Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail.
"We have not been informed that they have been moved to Manila, and we believe that further investigations are likely being conducted by the authorities there.
"All I can say is that we will wait for the decision of the Philippine authorities and respect whatever decision is made, even though we have suggested and hoped for their release. However, the enforcement of the law is entirely up to the Philippines," he added.
He made these comments during a press conference following the closing parade of the 68th Basic Police Training Programme (PLAK) Series 3/2024 at the parade ground of the Sabah Police Contingent Headquarters (IPK) here today.
Last Sunday, eight Chinese nationals and three Malaysians were detained by the Philippine Maritime Authorities, the Philippine Navy, and the Philippine Army in the waters off Sitangkai, Tawi-Tawi, in the south of the country.
The individuals were detained after being discovered entering Philippine territory on two speedboats without valid documents.
It is understood that the tourists were on vacation in Semporna and were allegedly fishing in Malaysian waters when their boat accidentally drifted into Philippine waters due to bad weather.