Malaysian police verifying reports Kiram brother escaped dragnet

After more than a week of being hunted down by Malaysian security forces, where is Raja Muda Agbimuddin Kiram, the leader of the armed Filipinos and brother of Sulu Sultan Jamalul Kiram III? Malaysian police said they are working with the Philippine government to verify reports that Agbimuddin may have escaped a dragnet but was intercepted near Mindanao, Malaysia's The Star Online reported Friday. However, The Star online's report also quoted Sulu sultanate spokesman Abraham Idjirani as saying their last information showed Agbimuddin was still in Sabah. Since March 5, Malaysian security forces have conducted offensives to flush out Agbimuddin and his men from Lahad Datu, following deadly clashes since March 1. "We are verifying all information we get," The Star Online's report quoted Malaysian police Inspector-General Tan Sri Ismail Omar as saying, when he was asked if he thought Agbimuddin was still within the area where offensives are being conducted. Earlier, the Philippine Navy intercepted on Wednesday more than 30 people who entered Philippine waters, but it was not clear if Agbimuddin was among those intercepted. The Star Online quoted Tawi-Tawi Governor Sadikul Sahari as saying he could not immediately confirm if Agbimuddin was among those intercepted. “I have not been informed of this by the Navy,” he said. For his part, Idjirani insisted Agbimuddin was alive in Sabah along with his general Haji Musa Abdulla, who Malaysian police had claimed to be among the fatalities of their offensive operations. “Agbimuddin is still in the area of operations. Haji Musa is with him,” Irdjani said. On Thursday, Malaysian authorities launched more mortar attacks in their mopping-up operations. Ismail said there may still be remnants of the Kiram followers in the area. Also, police detained a man in his 30s intercepted at a roadblock at about 10:45 a.m. Seized from the man were two samurai swords and three machetes packed in a parcel. — LBG, GMA News