MANILA - The Philippine government is gathering evidence of alleged brutality that Filipinos experienced in Sabah before deciding what course of action to take.

Social Welfare Secretary Dinky Soliman said that this has been President's Aquino's instruction.

"The instruction of the President is to first find the evidence and then it will be upon the recommendation of the DFA what we need to do," Soliman told reporters in Malacañang.

Soliman said that victims of brutality would be asked to submit written statements narrating their experience.

She added that there may be some who have already given statements but declined to have their identities disclosed to media for their protection, as well as their families'.

It would be up to the Department of Foreign Affairs what form of action or protest that the Philippine government will take.

"Hindi natin sinasabi na kailangan nilang i-justify. Kailangan lang nilang isalaysay at 'yung salaysay na 'yun ay kailangang meron pong taong magsasabing, 'Ito talaga ang nakita ko.' Palagay ko naman, maiintindihan ng ating mga kababayan, ng ating mamamayan na bago tayo magsampa ng reklamo, may ebidensya tayong pwedeng ibigay," Soliman said.

"Ang ebidensya, hindi kailangang meron kang sugat. Ang kailangan lang may maliwanag na salaysay, kung saan nangyari, kailan nangyari, at sino itong nagkukuwento," she added.

Authorities are also coordinating with a newspaper reporter who has interviewed Filipinos who experienced abuse in Sabah.

Aid for balikbayans

Meantime, Soliman assured returning residents from Sabah of the government's assistance. Those who have reached Tawi-Tawi and Sulu are being given food packs and will be assisted to return to their home provinces.

A thousand more sacks of rice will be used for relief distribution while 2,000 sacks will be used for "commercial purposes" to help bring down the price of rice.

Soliman said that old stocks of rice are not being used for relief distribution and clarified that the brown-colored rice appears such because it is iron-fortified, not rotten.

"Natural naman na ang ating isinasagawa, ang ating mga pagkilos, pangunahin ang protektahan ang karapatan at kapakanan ng mamayayan natin. 'Yan ay maliwanag na pag-uutos ni Pangulong Aquino, hindi lamang sa usapin ng kanilang nararanasan doon but lalong-lalo na sa usapin ng pagsisigurado na 'pag balik nila, sila ay nasa mabuting pag-aaruga ng pamahalaan, mula po sa pagsisigurado na merong pagkain 'pag dating na pagdating nila, meron silang dadalhin na food packs at least for five days, at meron ho silang pamasahe para umuwi," she said.

Aside from relief goods, livelihood support will also be given. Those who wish to return to Sabah will also be assisted in processing their work papers.

"Kung hindi actual employment, entrepreneurship. O kung gusto nilang bumalik sa Sabah, tutulungan silang makakuha ng mga ligal na dokumento, nang sa ganoon malaya silang makapagtrabaho sa Sabah," Soliman said.

Pinoys in Sabah

The Philippine government's rapid response team in Lahad Datu will be helping Filipinos who wish to return to the Philippines as a result of the standoff and also help process work documents for those who wish to stay.

Approximately 200-300 Filipinos in Kampung Batu Batu wish to return to the Philippines, according to Soliman.

Social workers are among those part of the rapid response team.

"Inaasahan na itong rapid response team and humanitarian welfare desk ay tutulong para doon sa mga gustong makauwi, makauwi, at [sa] mga gustong manatili, matulungan kung wala silang dokumento, na mabigyan sila ng dokumento, nang sa ganoon malaya silang makapagtrabaho sa lugar na kanilang pinagtatrabahuhan," Soliman said.

The team has visited Filipinos in evacuation centers in Sabah as well as Filipinos working in Felda plantation. Soliman said the Filipino workers in Felda were assured of their job security.