Sabah assault: 15 dead

By Jaime Laude and Pia Lee-Brago (The Philippine Star) | Updated March 2, 2013 12:00am

MANILA, Philippines - A standoff between Malaysian security forces and followers of Sulu Sultan Jamalul Kiram III ended in violence yesterday, with two Malaysian police officers and a Sabah villager and up to 12 of Kirams men killed as Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak declared his patience had run out. Najib, quoted by state news agency Bernama, confirmed the Malaysian police deaths and said that 10 to 12 Filipinos had been killed after their group tried to break through a security cordon around a village in Lahad Datu where they had been holed up since Feb. 9. Malacaang confirmed the deaths and called the turn of events saddening. We regret the loss of lives, Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Office Secretary Ricky Carandang told reporters last night after a meeting with President Aquino and other officials. We condole with the families of those who were lost, Carandang said, adding that the standoff could not be considered over because Malaysian forces and followers of Kiram were still in the area. There now exists a small window of opportunity to arrive at a peaceful conclusion to the situation in Lahad Datu; we are exerting every effort to seize that opportunity, and are hopeful that the Kiram family and their followers will seize it with us, so that further bloodshed may be avoided, Carandang said. Since the onset, our primary goal had been to resolve the situation without violence. That is why President Aquino urged the followers of the Kiram family to lay down their arms and return home, so that their grievances can be addressed through sober, productive dialogue, Carandang said. Carandang said they could not confirm reports that a crackdown on Filipinos in Sabah had begun because of the incident. The group that battled with Malaysian forces was led by the sultans brother Agbimuddin, also called Raja Muda or crown prince. More than 200 followers of the Sultanate of Sulu landed in Sabah last month, declaring the territory as their homeland. Both the Philippine and Malaysian governments had repeatedly urged them to return home. Rubiea Marie G. Arapoc Year 2 Humility