KOTA KINABALU: The Eastern Sabah Security Command (Esscom) is still looking into the identities of three armed men shot dead after an exchange of fire with the police near a plantation at Batu 2, Jalan Kalabakan-Keningau, Tawau, on Tuesday.
Esscom commander Datuk Hazani Ghazali said they have yet to ascertain the identity of the three individuals.
They also have not received any information from the Philippines authorities on the claim made by a newspaper that one of the suspects was the sub-commander with the Abu Sayyaf group.
“I don’t know where they got the information from as we have not received such report from the neighbouring country’s security forces.
“We are investigating the identity of the three,” he said when contacted by NSTP here today.
In the 3.20pm incident on Tuesday, three men were shot dead before police found an M16 rifle, a revolver, a samurai sword, mask and gloves in the Perodua Kancil the trio were in.
The car was reported missing in 2010.
Hazani yesterday said that the authorities are not discounting the possibility that the three could be Daesh militants based on their tactical capabilities and weapons.
A thorough probe is being done with the assistance of Bukit Aman, Interpol and the Philippines authorities.