Sabah Police Commissioner Omar Mammah said marine police found the bodies, including children, in a boat near the island.

“We believe the incident may have happened in the waters off southern Philippines.

“They were island inhabitants and did not have any documents with them.

“Their bodies were brought back to Pulau Dinawan on Thursday and buried there the next day,” he told reporters after attending a meeting at the Federal Administrative Complex here today.

Omar said Semporna police lodged a report and the matter had been classified as sudden death.