KL asked to probe robbery case

KL asked to probe robbery case

MANILA (DPA): Manila asked authorities in Kuala Lumpur
yesterday to investigate a report that the crew of a Malaysian
Navy vessel robbed a Philippine boat inside its own territorial
waters, the country's top foreign affairs official said.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Domingo Siazon said the Philippine
ambassador to Malaysia had already brought the allegation to the
attention of Malaysian Foreign Affairs Minister Abdullah Badawi.

Reports last month said armed Malaysian sailors boarded a
Philippine vessel anchored off Boaan island near Tawi-Tawi
province in the southern Philippines on Aug. 20.

The Filipino seamen said the Malaysian crew took their
belongings and then sped off out of Philippine waters.

Officials said the Philippines would have to wait for results
of the investigation being done by the armed forces' southern
command before deciding whether to file a diplomatic protest.