Philippine President Benigno Aquino III suspects his party rival, former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, has a role in the conflict between Malaysian security forces and armed Fillipino intruders in Lahad Datu, Sabah.

Aquino said in a televised address with officials of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) that the authorities there were “building up” a case, the Philippine Daily Inquirer reported today.

gloria arroyo macapagal He said evidence was still being gathered on "conspirators" working with followers of the Sulu sultanate who intruded into Sabah on Feb 9 in a bid to stake their claim over the east Malaysian state.

Asked about the involvement of Arroyo ( left ), the president reportedly confirmed that while intelligence reports pointed to the identity of the conspirators, it did not provide “evidence necessary for the courts”.

However, the Philippine Daily Inquirer reported, the family of the Sultan of Sulu Jamalul Kiram III has denied working with conspirators, challenging the Philippine authorities to provide proof otherwise.

“All these are just allegations. Prove it. We challenge them to prove it,” Princess Jacel Kiram, daughter of the sultan, said at a news conference.

Meanwhile Aquino expressed concern for the safety of Filippinos working and living in Sabah and warned the armed intruders that they “will not succeed”.

The standoff, which is in its third week, has already cost the lives of eight Malaysian police officers and 19 Sulu intruders, in clashes around Kampung Tanduo and Semporna, while an armed group is believed to have landed in Kunak.

It reached its peak today when negotiations failed and the Malaysian security forces launched an offensive at Kampung Tanduo at 7am, starting with an aerial attack as three explosions were heard in the direction of the coastal village.

Related stories

IGP: Security forces on careful hunt for enemies

Nazri: Kg Tanduo incident an intrusion, not a war LIVE REPORTS

Doubts emerge over military assault on invaders

Protests in Manila, Najib's photo burnt

Sulu rep claims Azzimuddie is 'alive and kicking'

F/A-18 and Hawk fighters bomb Kg Tanduo

PM backs massive ops against intruders

IGP: Our forces face resistance from intruders

Sulu intruders will face murder charges

Sultan Jamalul says his people will 'fight to last man'

Fears linger in Semporna although fighting is over

Sabahans petition to 'remain Malaysians'

Tighter security in red zones, Lahad Datu town calm

'M'sian-trained' Moro fighters to aid Sulu invaders

Mahathir denies country had trained MNLF fighters

'No evidence Moro fighters will also attack Sabah'

Between a fluid region and a hard state

Selangor to set up RM10mil fund for slain cops

'Semporna safe, no guns fired last night'

Putrajaya has imported Moro militancy into Sabah

Dr M, the religion of intruders does not matter