6 Malaysian cops, 6 Filipinos killed in Sabah weekend clashes—Bernama news agency

(Updated 8:22 a.m.) - At least six Filipino followers of Sulu Sultan Jamalul Kiram III and six Malaysian policemen were killed in clashes in Sabah Saturday, following Friday's violent shootout that killed 12 Filipinos and two Malaysian commandos, according to Malaysia's state-run Bernama news agency.

 

Malaysian police Inspector General Tan Sri Ismail Omar said most of the weekend casualties came from an ambush by the armed men on police in Kampung Sri Jaya in Siminul in Semporna, Sabah, the report said.

 

Ismail was quoted in the report as saying the bodies of the six slain policemen were taken to Semporna Hospital.

 

He said the policemen were shot at as they approached a house in the village. The policemen fired back.

 

Also, Ismail denied policemen were held hostage by Kiram's followers, dismissing it as a "rumor." He also said the situation in the village is back to normal.

 

"This is just a rumor and I ask the public not to believe any rumor on the incident," he said of the supposed hostage-taking by Kiram's men.

 

'Situation resolved'

 

A separate report on Malaysia's The Star Online said police considered the Semporna shootout incident resolved after the recovery of the body of a Malaysian policeman and six bodies supposedly of Sulu gunmen.

 

Ismail said mopping-up operations and checking of some 300 houses in the village ended at 6:30 p.m. Sunday.

 

Tension gripped several areas in Sabah over the weekend following clashes between Kiram's followers and Malaysian authorities.

 

On Friday, a clash between the two sides resulted in the deaths of 12 Filipinos and two Malaysian commandos.

 

Before Friday's clash, Kiram's followers had engaged Malaysian security forces in a three-week standoff in Lahad Datu.

 

Malaysia has since adopted an all-out stance against Kiram's followers still in Sabah, prompting President Benigno Aquino III to appeal to Kiram's followers to surrender without conditions.

 

But Kiram's followers have rejected Aquino's call, choosing "honor over life." —KG/HS, GMA News