Ann JeffreyKOTA KINABALU: The two Filipinos shot dead by police at Penampang Baru were believed responsible for three armed robberies in the State last month alone.

State Police Commissioner Datuk Jalaluddin Abdul Rahman, however, would not be drawn into making comments on their links with the Sulu rebel army or the five people wanted in Semporna, except to say that he would provide information after detailed investigations are completed.

"I have received information that there are certain reasons behind the robbery where huge sums of money are involved. However, I assure that within a week, I will provide findings of the investigations," he told a media conference at the State police headquarters in Kepayan, Friday.

He said seven taskforce teams under the Criminal Investigation Department were set up after three armed robbery cases were reported within a month, namely in Tuaran on Oct. 16, Kota Kinabalu on Oct. 9 and Penampang on Oct. 6.

"We received intelligence information that there are two armed men from the Philippines who are in the State to rob, targeting banks and goldsmith premises, where there are huge sums of money. Thus, the reason why we have conducted exercises and frequent roadblocks to track the duo over the past three months," he said.

"We received information two weeks ago about their presence in Tuaran, Penampang and Kota Kinabalu with the latest information received at about 3pm on Thursday, of them heading towards Penampang to stage a robbery.

"Our taskforce team in Penampang and Kota Kinabalu comprising 14 personnel spotted the vehicle and tailed it to Penampang Baru where it stopped near a block of shops for what reason we do not know.

However, as our men approached the vehicle and introduced themselves, one of the men drew out a pistol prompting the team to fire several shots in defence," he said, adding that the shooting between police and the criminals took place at about 4pm.

Jalaluddin said police are investigating how many shots were fired between the police and the men, adding that inspections on the vehicle led to the discovery of a Browning pistol with ammunition in its chamber as well as two bullet shells.

Also among items found in the vehicle were three handphones which would be sent for further investigations.

"So far, we know that there are only two people involved, one an international passport holder while the other had an identification document which will be referred to the National Registration Department for authentication because information showed that they were travelling under false documents."

No arrests have been made so far, but police will investigate whether they have any friends or family living in the State. Detailed investigations will also be done on the alleged police report which was circulated via social media which claimed that the duo were actually high ranking Sulu army officers.

On Oct. 16, a daring robbery was staged at the Kedai Man Man goldsmith premises located along a busy route in Tuaran town with losses amounting to RM1million.

On Oct. 6, armed robbers made off with cash and valuables worth RM12,000 at a Senheng outlet at Kepayan Point. On Oct 13, a premises along Mile 2 Jalan Tuaran in Kota Kinabalu was robbed of RM4,000 by two armed men.

The Servay Hypermarket in the vicinity of the shooting was also the scene of a RM400,000 robbery by two armed masked men barely three days earlier but Jalaluddin made no mention whether it had anything to do with the latest incident.