Nine Filipinos who were part of an armed group that occupied part of Borneo in 2013, in an episode that left several dead, have been sentenced to hang.
The incursion by some 200 Islamic militants from the southern Philippines was inspired by a proclaimed Filipino sultanate’s claims of historical dominion over the state of Sabah on Borneo island.
The assault led to a siege between the militants and the Malaysia’s armed forces who were sent to root them out.
At least 70 people were killed, mostly militants, over the six-week ordeal.
The episode eventually fizzled out when some of the militants fled the palm oil plantation where they had been holed up and returned to the Philippines.
The nine had initially been handed life sentences last year but prosecutors appealed for a stiffer penalty.
“With this current sentence, I am satisfied,” Deputy Public Prosecutor Wan Shaharuddin Wan Ladin told AFP.
“Hopefully this will deter other alien nations from intruding into Sabah and Malaysia.”
He added that technically the nine Filipinos were sentenced to death for “waging war against the King of Malaysia” and jail sentences of 13 to 18 years were handed out for “being a member of a terrorist group.”
The Philippines said it would ask Malaysia to reconsider the death penalty.
Government official Raul Dado said Philippine officials in Malaysia are “meeting immediately with embassy lawyers.”
A total of 800,000 Filipinos live in Sabah, making up about a quarter of the population of the state, which is just a short boat ride from the southern Philippines.
The sentencing comes as Philippine troops continue an offensive to dislodge local militants who overran parts of Marawi more than two weeks ago. (Agence France Presse)