PHL, Malaysia discuss claiming of bodies; 2 clashes reported in Sabah

From GMA News (Mar 19): PHL, Malaysia discuss claiming of bodies; 2 clashes reported in Sabah

Even as two clashes in Sabah were recorded Monday, Philippine and Malaysian officials have started discussing the repatriation of the bodies of 28 followers of Sulu Sultan Jamalul Kiram III who were killed following encounters with Malaysian security forces since March 5.

A report on Malaysia's state-run Bernama news agency late Monday quoted Sabah police commissioner Datuk Hamza Taib as saying two clashes occurred Monday morning, at 8:05 a.m. and 9:45 a.m.
The Bernama report made no mention of casualties.

Hamza also said they believed there are less than 50 Kiram followers left in Kampung Tanjung Batu, even as he brushed off Sultan Kiram's claim his followers will resort to guerrilla warfare.

"Jamalul Kiram can say anything he wants. We are all out to flush them out," he said.

Meanwhile, Army First Infantry Division commander Maj. Gen. Datuk Ahmad Zaki Mokhtar said 12 armored vehicles with chain wheels are to arrive in Felda Sahabat Tuesday.

They will bolster security forces hunting down Kiram's followers.

Reclaiming bodies

The Bernama report also said Malaysia and the Philippines "were discussing" a request to claim the bodies of the 28 Kiram followers killed in mopping-up operations.

Last Friday, a separate Bernama report had quoted Hamza as saying the Philippines had three days to respond to its official communication to claim the bodies.

"If there is no response in three days, we will go ahead and bury the dead," he said at the time.

The report did not immediately give further details about the discussions.

On Monday, Raul Fernandez, spokesman of the Department of Foreign Affairs, said in a text message to GMA News Online: "We are coordinating with the Malaysians on the possible repatriation of remains of Filipinos killed in Sabah."

Meanwhile, Malaysian police have tightened border security and surveillance efforts at Sabah and Sarawak to prevent the escape of followers of Kiram.

The Philippine National Police and Philippine Navy, on the other hand, are focusing their patrols in four areas in Mindanao to prevent Kiram's supporters from sneaking into Sabah.

These areas are Tawi-Tawi, Sulu, Basilan, and the Zamboanga Peninsula, a dzBB report said.

 

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