Phl trying its utmost to end standoff in Sabah: official

MANILA, Philippines (Xinhua) - The Philippine government said today that it is doing all it can to peacefully end the standoff in Sabah between Malaysian security troops and more than 100 armed Filipinos.

Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said that the representatives from the Philippines and Malaysia were still discussing how to resolve the matter, trying their best to find a peaceful  way to solve the incident.

"What I can tell you today is that discussions are ongoing between Philippine and Malaysian authorities as well as with the other parties involved in the incident," she said.

Valte said that the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs ( DFA) is handling the issue.

"The DFA always acts in line with our national interest and with the protection of our citizens as their utmost priority," she added.

A group of armed Filipinos, who claimed to be followers of Sultan Jamalul Kiram III of Sulu, and Malaysian security forces have been locked in a standoff in Kampung Tanduo since last Wednesday. The group said they have orders from the Sultanate of Sulu which has a historic claim over the northern tip of Borneo island in the Malaysian state of Sabah.