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

(Updated 12:06 p.m.) - 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 have been 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 threat of 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 will arrive in Felda Sahabat, Malaysian forces' base camp in Lahad Datu, Tuesday. They will bolster security forces hunting down Kiram's followers. Reclaiming bodies As of Sunday evening, post mortem examinations had been conducted on 22 of the 28 bodies of slain Kiram followers. The bodies are now at the Hospital Lahad Datu, in Sabah, according to a “Saksi” report Monday night. Details of the post mortem examinations were not given, but the Sulu sultanate intends to request the United Nations to conduct an independent autopsy on the bodies to determine whether there was foul play, the report said. The Malaysian government has written to the Philippine government regarding the repatriation of the bodies in three days, although it did not specify the dates for this period, the report also said. "We have sent the letters through our Foreign Ministry. In fact, today there will be a meeting between the Foreign Ministry and the Philippine Embassy. Technically the three-day period has not lapsed yet," Datuk Hamza Taib, Sabah Police Comissioner, said in the “Saksi” report. For his part, Philippine Ambassador to Malaysia Ed Malaya said the Malaysia Foreign Ministry had not yet said when the bodies could be returned to the Philippines. "Hindi po sila aware doon sa sulat at hindi din po nila nakikita pa iyong sulat. Ang sabi daw nila ay iyong tatlong araw na iyon na palugit ay hindi pa tumatakbo," Malaya said in the same report. Malacañang on Saturday said the Philippine government is ready to provide assistance to repatriation. "Kailangan po nating madinig din kung ano 'yung sentiments ng kanilang pamilya at kung ano 'yung abiso ng mga Imam sa bagay na ito," Malaya said. Islamic tradition states that the deceased person must be buried within 24 hours after his or her death. After the 17-day standoff erupted in a firefight on March 1, the Sulu sultanate asked Malaysia for a ceasefire in order to be able to bury their dead. Since March 5, Malaysian security forces had conducted offensive operations to flush out Kiram’s followers. According to Hamza, 61 of the sultan's followers had been killed from March 5 to 15. Kiram is studying the possibility of lifting the unilateral ceasefire it declared nearly two weeks ago amid the continuing operations against his followers by Malaysian forces in Sabah. Malaysia has rejected Kiram’s offer of a unilateral ceasefire and insisted that his followers must surrender unconditionally instead. "There was no ceasefire. From day one, we don't believe Jamalul Kiram," Hamza said in the “Saksi” report. Last Friday, a Bernama report 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.