Philippines presses Malaysia on deportees but avoids fight
MANILA - President Gloria Arroyo is concerned at the suffering of Filipino illegals held at detention centers while awaiting deportation from Malaysia, her spokesman said today.
She is "very concerned, especially when she saw that tape," spokesman Ignacio Bunye said on local radio, referring to television footage of the holding centers in the Malaysian state of Sabah.
In the footage, at least one woman was seen weeping over her dead child.
Arroyo "is personally doing something about it," Bunye said, adding her actions would be revealed later.
Manila is pressing Kuala Lumpur for better treatment of hundreds of Filipinos awaiting deportation, but is trying to head off calls for a confrontation over the issue, officials said.
The Philippines' anger boiled over into the streets today, when a small number of protesters scuffled with security guards and Malaysian embassy personnel.
About 20 leftist activists chanted "Filipino deportees have human rights too," and tried to force their way into the narrow embassy gate.
Riot police later forced the protesters farther away from the embassy.
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