Navy ship goes to Malaysia trying to get Filipinos
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In this picture dated Feb 20, 2013, a Royal Malaysian Navy's combat boat patrol near the beach of Tanjung Labian, near an area where armed Filippino men are holding off in Kampung Tanduo, outside Lahad Datu town on Borneo island. A Philippine navy ship is sailing to waters off eastern Malaysia on Feb 25, 2013 to try to bring back some members of the clan. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
MANILA (AP) - A Philippine navy ship was sailing to waters off eastern Malaysia on Monday to try to bring back some members of a Filipino clan who became locked in a territorial standoff after going there and claiming land as their own.
About 180 Filipinos, including about 30 armed security guards, arrived in Sabah state's coastal district of Lahad Datu about two weeks ago, claiming Sabah belongs to their royal clan based in the southern Philippine province of Sulu.
Malaysian authorities regard them as armed intruders and have attempted to persuade them to leave peacefully, extending a deadline until Tuesday.
Philippine and Malaysian authorities have said the group's demands should be addressed through diplomatic channels.
