When you come across from Sabah it's sort of semi-legit for pinoys. There was a recognised route back and forth for illegals going to Malaysia to work. Anyway, when you get back to Pinas your first port of call is Sitangkai. There's a sort of customs/immigration presence on Sitangkai but you attend voluntarily so I didn't. For pinoys, it's sort of condoned as cash is coming into the country when they work abroad whether legally or illegally. Very easy to get into some countries without a visa whatever anyone tells you (just look at the UK). Duterte has American "Advisors" helping and has recently been armed by the Chinese, but remember only a few weeks ago Duterte said this would be finished in days which he has now extended to possibly a YEAR