A ship on a humanitarian mission was dispatched last night to fetch and ferry back the women and other civilians among the 180-member group who are holed out in Lahad Datu, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said yesterday.

The ship, with hull number AT296, sailed from Bongao, Tawi-Tawi to the village of Tanduo in Lahad Datu in Sabah.

The ship is being prepositioned offshore Lahad Datu while talks with the group are underway.  

There are reportedly some 180 individuals in the group, including some 30 armed escorts.

Onboard the ship are Filipino-Muslim leaders as well as social workers and medical personnel.

Meanwhile, Vice President Jejomar Binay confirmed he talked with Sultan Kiram.

Binay said he just reiterated the position of the Philippine government and renewed the government’s appeal for sobriety.

“I emphasized that the parties should exert all effort to arrive at a peaceful resolution.”*with PNA