KOTA KINABALU: A Sabahan was denied entry into the Philippines for alleged links to Jemaah Islamiah, says a regional intelligence source.

       The 53-year-old man was detained on arrival at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila after he arrived from Kuala Lumpur at about 5.30pm on Tuesday (May 10), the source said.

       The source said that the man, who was with his wife and daughter, was not allowed to enter the country but was questioned for facilitating five Malaysians linked to JI activities prior to the failed 2017 Marawi siege in the Philippines where gunmen tried to set up an Islamic state.

       It was learned that the Sabahan and his daughter were scheduled to be flown back to Malaysia while his wife was allowed entry.

       The source said that the authorities in Manila did not have a warrant of arrest against him but denied him entry into the country.

       The man from Sabah's Sandakan area has been staying in Selangor for some time now.

       The source said that the Philippines' police believed that he acted as a facilitator for Malaysian Dr Mahmud Ahmad, who was killed in the Marawi siege.

       Philippines security intelligence accused Mahmud as a key man who organised funds for militants to carry out the urban siege of Marawi that lasted a month from May 23 to June 2017.

       Sabah Police Commissioner Datuk Idris Abdullah said the case had been brought to their attention but said he believed it would be referred to Bukit Aman.