The heirs of the Sultan of Sulu: (seated from left) Rajah Mudah Agbimuddin Kiram, Sultan Jamalul Kiram III, Sultan Bantilan Esmail Kiram II and (standing from left) Datu Alianapia Kiram, Datu Phugdal Kiram and Datu Baduruddin Kiram. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines – The body of a top official of Rajah Mudah Agbimuddin Kiram has been recovered by police in Sabah, Malaysian media reported Tuesday.
Malaysia’s The Star online said the remains of Haji Musa, a general of the Sulu group led by Agbimuddin Kiram, was found in Kampung Tanjung Batu along with other bodies of the Sulu gunmen.
According to The Star, Sabah Police Commissioner Datuk Hamza Taib said he had new information that there were up to 15 bodies buried there.
“We believe there are more bodies buried in the same grave and in other graves nearby.
“Our men will be going back to investigate,” he told the morning press conference here Tuesday.
Nine bodies of the gunmen were initially discovered in a hole by security forces after a strike on the village on March 6 where the armed intruders had been holed up since Feb, 9, the report added.
“One more body was recovered from Kg Tanjung Batu today (Tuesday), bringing the total number of bodies recovered to 23,” added Hamza.
The death toll for the gunmen remains at 54 and no shootings were reported since Monday.
Malaysian security forces launched an all-out offensive against the group last Tuesday after attempts to end the three-week stand-off peacefully failed.