Amid ultimatum,cops drop leaflets urging Pinoys in Sabah standoff to surrender
Amid an ultimatum from Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak to surrender or face the consequences, Malaysian police on Saturday dropped leaflets from a helicopter telling Filipinos still holed up in Sabah to surrender.
State-run Bernama news agency quoted Sabah Police Commissioner Datuk Hamza Taib as saying the leaflets bore messages in English and Suluk.
"Warning. Lay down your arms. Surrender. Surrender. Surrender," the message read, according to the Bernama report.
Earlier, Najib said the time to consider the demands by the followers of Sulu Sultan Jamalul Kiram III had lapsed.
Najib said the armed intrusion into Malaysia and the killing of two security forces personnel and injuring of three more was a "serious crime."
He said he called up Philippine President Benigno Aquino III Friday night to "state the stand of the Malaysian government on the matter."
"I said the government felt that the time to consider the group's demands had lapsed, and that they had the option of surrendering or facing the action of the authorities and security forces," he said.
Aquino on Saturday issued a statement telling the Filipinos in Sabah to surrender without conditions.
Najib also disclosed the Filipinos used a white flag as a ruse to open fire on Malaysian policecommandos Friday.
"The two slain commandos had seen the white flag and did not think that there would be other intruders waiting to open fire on them," he said.
Najib said he is not discounting the possibility the white flag was a "trap by the intruders," adding that if it was the case, it was "an act of cowards."
For his part, Hamza said the police were collaborating with the army to resolve the matter.
But he advised people not to speculate on the number of security forces' personnel killed or injured in the gun battle, adding no curfew had been imposed in the area.
"I have to make this clear because there have been announcements of a curfew in social websites and blogs. I am in charge of issuing the order for a curfew, but I have not issued any order following yesterday's incident," he said.
On Friday, "10 to 12" Filipinos were killed along with two Malaysian police personnel during the gun battle that followed a standoff that lasted almost three weeks.
Malaysia said its police had cordoned off the armed Filipino on Feb. 12, after they arrived there and laid claim to Sabah.
In Lahad Datu, Bernama reported many business premises remained closed Saturday, with only few shops and restaurants open for business.
Bernama said few people were in the town even though it was the weekend, and there were fewer vehicles than normal on the roads.
A separate report on Malaysia's The Star online quoted Sulu Sultanate spokesman Abraham Idjirani as saying the Filipinos in Sabah will maintain their position but want a peaceful resolution.
It quoted Idjirani as saying Sultan Kiram wanted to discuss the issue of their supposed territorial claim to Sabah.
"We will sit down and plan it out, he is still hopeful for peaceful negotiations," he said.
He added the sultan's brother Raja Muda Azzimudie Kiram, the leader of the group, is "alive and well."
But Idjirani said he had not been in contact with Azzimudie since Friday's battle. The Star online said it made "numerous calls" to Raja Muda but failed to get to him.
Idjirani also said he knew nothing about Najib's discussion with President Aquino. "We are not aware of this," he said. — LBG, GMA News
State-run Bernama news agency quoted Sabah Police Commissioner Datuk Hamza Taib as saying the leaflets bore messages in English and Suluk.
"Warning. Lay down your arms. Surrender. Surrender. Surrender," the message read, according to the Bernama report.
Earlier, Najib said the time to consider the demands by the followers of Sulu Sultan Jamalul Kiram III had lapsed.
Najib said the armed intrusion into Malaysia and the killing of two security forces personnel and injuring of three more was a "serious crime."
He said he called up Philippine President Benigno Aquino III Friday night to "state the stand of the Malaysian government on the matter."
"I said the government felt that the time to consider the group's demands had lapsed, and that they had the option of surrendering or facing the action of the authorities and security forces," he said.
Aquino on Saturday issued a statement telling the Filipinos in Sabah to surrender without conditions.
Najib also disclosed the Filipinos used a white flag as a ruse to open fire on Malaysian policecommandos Friday.
"The two slain commandos had seen the white flag and did not think that there would be other intruders waiting to open fire on them," he said.
Najib said he is not discounting the possibility the white flag was a "trap by the intruders," adding that if it was the case, it was "an act of cowards."
For his part, Hamza said the police were collaborating with the army to resolve the matter.
But he advised people not to speculate on the number of security forces' personnel killed or injured in the gun battle, adding no curfew had been imposed in the area.
"I have to make this clear because there have been announcements of a curfew in social websites and blogs. I am in charge of issuing the order for a curfew, but I have not issued any order following yesterday's incident," he said.
On Friday, "10 to 12" Filipinos were killed along with two Malaysian police personnel during the gun battle that followed a standoff that lasted almost three weeks.
Malaysia said its police had cordoned off the armed Filipino on Feb. 12, after they arrived there and laid claim to Sabah.
In Lahad Datu, Bernama reported many business premises remained closed Saturday, with only few shops and restaurants open for business.
Bernama said few people were in the town even though it was the weekend, and there were fewer vehicles than normal on the roads.
A separate report on Malaysia's The Star online quoted Sulu Sultanate spokesman Abraham Idjirani as saying the Filipinos in Sabah will maintain their position but want a peaceful resolution.
It quoted Idjirani as saying Sultan Kiram wanted to discuss the issue of their supposed territorial claim to Sabah.
"We will sit down and plan it out, he is still hopeful for peaceful negotiations," he said.
He added the sultan's brother Raja Muda Azzimudie Kiram, the leader of the group, is "alive and well."
But Idjirani said he had not been in contact with Azzimudie since Friday's battle. The Star online said it made "numerous calls" to Raja Muda but failed to get to him.
Idjirani also said he knew nothing about Najib's discussion with President Aquino. "We are not aware of this," he said. — LBG, GMA News
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