Navy intercepts 35 Kiram followers off Tawi-Tawi

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Navy said its patrolling units intercepted followers of Sulu Sultan Jamalul Kiram III on board two boats in waters off Tawi-Tawi province on Wednesday morning.

Navy spokesperson Lt. Commander Gregory Fabic said that the boats, which were loaded with at least 35 followers of the sultanate, were intercepted in waters off Andoligan town at around 6:30 a.m.

Fabic said that the patrolling Navy units seized firearms and ammunition from the two boats.

He said that one of the intercepted followers of the sultanate is a female.

Fabic said that they have yet to determine if the boats were headed for Sabah, where other members of the sultanate's army are holed up.

Reports said that at least 200 members of the sultanate's army, led by Raja Muda Agbimuddin Kiram, landed on Sabah's Lahad Datu town last February 11.

Agbimuddin and his followers have splintered into small groups in an effort to avoid the manhunt operations conducted by Malaysian authorities after a series of offensives.

Malaysian authorities said that more than 60 followers of Kiram have been killed in the operations and more than a dozen have been arrested.