Members of police force carry the coffin of deceased Corporal Sabaruddin bin Daud, 47. — Pic by Saw Siow FengSEMPORNA,
March 3 — Another policeman was killed in an ambush in Sri Jaya here
today, bringing to eight the number of police personnel killed after
three weeks of a Filipino militant incursion into Sabah, police said
tonight.
Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Ismail Omar confirmed the death,
saying that a total of six militants were also killed in the skirmish
150km from Lahad Datu where the bulk of militants have set up camp.
Five policemen were confirmed killed yesterday while police reported
only two militants died in the gunfight at the Kampung Simunul water
village here.
In a statement earlier today, Ismail said the police are working with
the military to hunt down 10 suspects, three who are armed, after they
escaped from a police siege in Kampung Tanduo, near Lahad Datu where a
Filipino Muslim clan claiming ownership of Sabah had dug in since
entering the state on February 9.
"To date, the police have succeeded in capturing three intruders who
tried to escape from police siege in Kampung Tanduo," he told a news
conference in Lahad Datu.
The Star also reported that
the police at present have accounted for 19 of the 25 policemen caught
in the ambush. As of press time, the bodies of six slain policemen have
been taken to the Semporna hospital.
A Malaysian, reported to be the home owner where the Filipinos were hiding, also died in the Lahad Datu shootout.
Five other policemen died in an attack in Kampung Seri Jaya Siminul in Semporna last night.
The IGP has advised residents living near the three districts not to
panic and not to listen to rumours, urging them to contact the nearest
police station or check the Sabah police website for further
information.
A Filipino Muslim clan claiming royal lineage from the Sulu sultanate
had intruded into Sabah on February 9 staking ownership over parts of
the Borneo state.
The armed group, estimated to number between 100 and 200 people, have
maintained they will not surrender their claim to the land, despite
entreaties from the Philippine President Benigno Aquino III.
Putrajaya, which had earlier attempted to negotiate a peaceful
resolution with the gunmen, have warned they will not hesitate to resort
to arms against the group to get them to leave Sabah.
Source themalaysianinsider