Kiram camp: Sultan's brother failed to answer phone

March 3, 2013 8:44am


The brother of Sulu Sultan Jamalul Kiram III who is leading a group of Filipinos in Sabah failed to answer his mobile phone early Sunday, the sultan's camp in Manila said.

Sulu Sultanate spokesman Abraham Idjirani said in a radio interview they called up Raja Muda Azzimudie Kiram but the phone rang only once.

"Mga 5 a.m., tinangka namin (tumawag). Nag-ring pero isang beses lang. Siguro ayaw niya sumagot para hindi matunton ang kinroroonan," Idjirani said in an interview on dzBB radio.

Azzimudie is leading a group of Filipinos that engaged Malaysian authorities in a three-week standoff in Lahad Datu.

The standoff was marred Friday by a gun battle that left two Malaysian police commandos dead. Malacañang said "10 to 12" Filipinos were also killed.

Following Friday's incident, Malaysia has adopted an all-out policy against the armed Filipinos.

President Benigno Aquino II on Saturday called on the armed Filipinos to surrender without condition but Kiram's camp rejected the call.

"Kahapon the last time nag-usap kami ni Raja Muda 2:30 p.m.," Idjirani said.

He said that during their last talk Saturday afternoon, they were "well and alive" and had regrouped.

Idjirani also said the group had 10 dead, four wounded and 10 supposedly captured. — LBG, GMA News