PHL urges Malaysia to reconsider death penalty on 9 Filipinos

Department of Foreign Affairs. (Photo: Department of Foreign Affairs/Facebook)

MANILA — The Philippine government will exhaust legal means to save nine Filipinos meted death by the Court of Appeal of Malaysia over Sabah standoff.

“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.

Dado said its team in Manila is also coordinating on the issue.

“Diplomatic initiatives will begin immediately both here and Manila,” he 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 armed incursion reportedly left at least 70 dead.

Filipinos facing death sentence 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.