13 bodies found in Sabah - report

SABAH SIEGE. An armed Malaysian policemen mans a security checkpoint in Lahad Datu on March 6, 2013. AFP PHOTO / MOHD RASFAN

MANILA, Philippines - Malaysian police recovered the bodies of 13 Filipino militants during their search operation after the assault on the standoff site in Sabah, state news agency Bernama reported on Thursday, March 7.

Twelve of the corpses were found buried in shallow graves in two separate locations within the area, while the other body was that of a gunman killed in a shootout, defense minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said.

Zahid explained that the Filipinos apparently performed a mass burial for their dead in Tanduao, Lahud Datu.

“After the ‘mopping up’ and search operations, the forensics team was sent in to check the bodies. Even so, it was not safe because at 1.45 pm, they were attacked, but, thankfully, no one got injured,” the defense minister told reporters late Wednesday.

Malaysian police inspector general Ismail Omar added he believes more "intruders" were shot on Wednesday but could not ascertain the number. - with reports from Carlos Santamaria/Rappler.com