ALTHOUGH the Department of Foreign Affairs could not confirm the report yet, the Malaysian government on Friday was reported to have deported 450 Filipinos who have been illegally living and working in Sabah.
After weeks of detention at the Papar and Sandakan temporary detention centers, 254 men, 112 women, and 84 children were sent back to Zamboanga City through Sandakan jetty, a Malaysian owned publication The Star reported.
DFA spokesman Charles Jose said his office needed to check the developments.
Jose was appointed by President Rodrigo Duterte for a tour of diplomatic duty as the Philippine ambassador to Malaysia.
“Those deported were aged one to 66,” The Star quoted its State Security Council director Datuk Rodzi.
In August, the Philippine Embassy in Kuala Lumpur already warned all Filipinos to be cautious against illegal recruitment syndicates who found a way to bring all trafficked Filipinos, expecting job opportunities abroad, to exit from Western Mindanao, to Sabah, then to Dubai or other countries.
The embassy said Sabah authorities were now very active in arresting all Filipinos who illegally crossed the borders of Sandakan, Sabah.
The Sabah authorities also warned Malaysian employers to refrain from hiring illegal immigrants and to continue to cooperate with security forces to deport them back to their countries.
Since the crackdown, there have been 20,026 illegal immigrants deported or voluntarily returned to their respective countries.
In November, President Rodrigo Duterte mentioned he had a deal with Malaysian forces during his two-day visit from Kuala Lumpur for the deportation of Filipinos detained in Sabah.