Philippine Justice Secretary Hernando Perez said today that there is sufficient evidence to prove the allegation that a 13-year-old Filipina was sexually abused in an illegal immigrants holding centre in Sabah.

According to an AFP report, Perez said he will be meet Malaysian lawyer, Gordon Jones, who is engaged by the Philippine government to handle the case, in Manila tomorrow.

"We will have a conference and I will hand over to him the affidavit of the 13-year-old victim," Perez had told local radio.

He added that there was "enough evidence" to prove the allegation and it is now a "matter of filing the appropriate charge in Malaysia".

Social workers have said the girl, among 500 Filipinos who were deported to the southern Philippines two weeks ago, needed immediate psychological help after the alleged sexual abuse.

Swift action

Last week, Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad pledged swift action in the case after Philippine President Gloria Arroyo complained in a letter to him that the migrant girl had been sexually abused, reportedly by a police personnel.

The case added fresh pressure to bilateral ties already strained by Malaysia's alleged mistreatment of thousands of Filipino migrants being deported after the introduction of tough immigration laws.

The AFP report quoted Philippine officials as saying that Defence Secretary Angelo Reyes was due to depart for Malaysia later today to meet with his counterpart to defuse bilateral tensions.

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