Police investigating the alleged rape of a 13-year-old girl by Sabah police said although proof of her Malaysian citizenship had been sent to Manila, it could not be ascertained whether the minor will be returning anytime soon.

Clarifying a Monday report in Malay language daily Berita Harian , Bukit Aman CID (Special Investigation) principal assistant director Takbir Ahmad Nazir said he is still "not quite certain" when the girl will be coming back since he had not received a reply directly from Manila.

"We have sent the DNA reports and (a copy) of her birth certificate to their Interpol officials. (Manila) has given an indication of its willingness to send the girl back although they have not said so on paper," he said when contacted.

Takbir, who is heading a three-member team to investigate the rape claims, was reported as saying that a letter from Manila is expected to be delivered to the Foreign Affairs Ministry this week and that the girl would be brought back to Sabah latest by next week.

When contacted, Philippines embassy consul-general in Kuala Lumpur, Luis Cruz, and officials at the Philippine Foreign Affairs Ministry denied any knowledge of the matter.

Awaiting reply

Takbir said the police are able to pursue the matter further only if they receive clearance from the Philippine government for the girl's return.

"We have written a letter to them and we are still waiting for their response," he said.

When asked if the Philippines is likely to insist on retaining the girl on grounds of her holding dual citizenship, he said the matter could be up for a legal tussle if that was Manila's intention.

However, Takbir said based on recent press reports in the Philippines, Manila had indicated its willingness to return the girl once Malaysian authorities provide proof of her citizenship.

Last week, malaysiakini reported that a copy of the girl's birth certificate had been sent to Manila as early as Oct 11 by the republic's embassy in Kuala Lumpur.

Since then, Philippine officials had remained silent on the matter, neither acknowledging their acceptance of the documentary proof, nor rejecting Malaysia's claims.

Return poser

Meanwhile, asked if the girl had refused to return to Malaysia, Takbir said the issue is beyond the scope of his investigations.

"We did not go into aspects of whether she is willing to return or otherwise. She is a minor and her parents are in Malaysia," he said.

Takbir said the girl was mistakenly deported as she was not living with her father when she was rounded up by Malaysian officials.

"The girl was staying temporarily with her aunt (at the time of the incident) since her father's house had been part of the illegal settlement in Pulau Gaya that was demolished by Sabah authorities," he explained.

Kuala Lumpur-Manila ties were strained over the alleged rape of the minor while in detention at a Sabah immigration camp.

Malaysian authorities had been seeking the girl's return after she was found to be a Malaysian and not a Filipina, as initially thought.