Philippine defence chief to visit M'sia over deportation issue

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MANILA - Philippine Defence Secretary Angelo Reyes is to visit Malaysia tomorrow in a bid to diffuse bilateral tensions following accusations that Filipino deportees were ill-treated, sources said.

Reyes, who will be accompanied by aides of President Gloria Arroyo and military officers, is the highest ranking official to visit Malaysia since the deportees' issue blew up last month.

The Philippines has sent two protest notes to Kuala Lumpur complaining that some of the thousands of Filipino deportees had been abused and ill-treated at holding centres in Sabah.

Arroyo also complained in a letter to Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad that a migrant girl had been sexually abused, reportedly by a policeman at a detention centre.

Mahathir pledged swift action on the case and ordered a moratorium on the deportations which were part of Malaysia's crackdown against illegal immigrants who can be caned and jailed under new tough punishments.

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