MANILA - From enforcing blockades in Sabah, the military has shifted to providing assistance to refugees in Sabah.

Western Mindanao Command spokesman Maj. Franco Alano said the situation in Sabah has already “mellowed down.”

"Our function now is more humanitarian mission because the Sabah incident has mellowed down. From naval blockade, what we are doing now is patrolling and escorting refugees who are returning," said Alano.

Some 180 members of the royal army of Sulu Sultan Jamalul Kiram III entered Lahad Datu some four weeks ago seeking to reclaim their jurisdiction of Sabah. The standoff later resulted to violence, with 8 Malaysian policemen killed and around 60 of Kiram's men dead.

Asked if they are no longer expecting reinforcements from Kiram’s followers, Alano said there is no indication of that yet except “we are, of course, expecting for the worst.”

AFP spokesman Col. Arnulfo Marcelo Burgos earlier said there are already ships deployed off Sulu, Basilan and Tawi-tawi.