(AFP) Malaysia deported another batch of more than 500 Filipino immigrants today, bringing to more than 1,000 the number of illegal Filipinos to have been sent back in the past week.

A total of 524 immigrants, of which 360 were men, were sent back to the southern Philippines city of Zamboanga by ferry from Sabah, said Sidin Karim, assistant director of Sabah's taskforce on illegal immigrants.

Malaysia last week deported 566 Filipino immigrants and announced plans to send back another 1,000 before the Eid al-Fitr celebrations this month marking the end of the holy Muslim month of Ramadan.

Between January and November this year, 25,601 mostly Indonesian and Filipino illegals have been deported, Sidin was quoted by Bernama news agency as saying.

The government has said that deportation of Filipino illegals would continue despite political turmoil in the southern Philippines, following clashes between Manila and followers of Muslim rebel leader Nur Misuari.

Misuari, who is currently detained in Malaysia, is wanted back home on charges of rebellion for sparking last month's armed revolt which claimed at least 113 lives.