PKR de facto head Anwar Ibrahim has clarified that Philippine president Benigno Aquino III had never implicated him in connection with the Sulu incursion into Lahad Datu, Sabah.

NONE At a press conference at PKR headquarters today, Anwar cited Filipino sources as having informed him that Aquino had only suggested that the opposition in the Philippines had a hand in the intrusion.

"We, as the opposition (in Malaysia were) never mentioned," he said.

However, he said he would not be surprised if the Malaysian authorities confirm his alleged involvement.

"I have good reason to suspect that there is a clear mark to implicate us in this whole episode," he added.

Media reports had quoted Aquino as indicating that the opposition in Malaysia and the Philippines were behind the incursion which began on Feb 9.

Anwar said that should he or his faction be implicated, they will fight “till the end”.

“They (BN) are trying to implicate me. Judging from the way the cabinet ministers and the prime minister has reacted to the allegations against me, that seems to be the case,” he insisted.

To date, eight police officers and two members of the armed forces had died in the standoff with Sulu gunmen in areas surrounding Lahad Datu and Semporna on the east coast of Sabah.

The men are claiming to be followers to the self-styled Sulu sultan Jamalul Kiram III, who is claiming ownership over Sabah.

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