I met an Aussie out there who had overstayed 6 years, he wasn't worried as he was getting on a bit in years and planned on going nowhere else. He said if immigration ever caught up with him he'd just say he'd lost his passport, or pay the officer a backhander. Not really an option if you need to leave and go back.
Tawi's idea sounds like an adventure, not sure how safe it is in sulu and jolo though.
