Sultanate now singing a different tune – Palace

MANILA, Philippines - Sulu Sultan Jamalul Kiram III and his followers were “singing a different tune” when they disowned the eight men charged in Malaysian courts with terrorism-related crimes over the Sabah violence, Malacañang said yesterday.

“I think they have to solidify... they have to clarify their position because the other day, that particular side had condemned the filing of charges against these eight people, and they had expressed their concern that the offense might carry the death penalty, etcetera,” deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said over radio dzRB yesterday.

“Today, they are singing a different tune, that they are not Filipinos but actually Malaysians. So we don’t know what necessitated the change in their position,” Valte said.

The denial of the Kirams came after one of the accused told a Malaysian judge that he had been paid to join the sultanate’s forces in Lahad Datu in Sabah.

Valte said reports reaching the Department of Foreign Affairs indicated the eight were Filipino nationals.

“We have not heard any contrary reports from our side. So we will proceed on that initial report, and we will proceed to provide the assistance,” Valte said.

She said Philippine officials are now allowed consular access to the eight and “we will be taking the necessary steps to extend the assistance that is needed.”

On Thursday, President Aquino assured the eight accused of legal assistance, saying they are Filipino citizens after all.

Aquino said the DFA and the Department of Justice were closely monitoring their cases.

Information about the crisis in Sabah has been sparse, with Philippine media reportedly being prevented from getting near the action as Malaysian security forces continue to hunt Kirams’ armed followers.

Some 200 followers of the sultanate – many armed – crossed over to Sabah early February to stake their claim on the territory. The violence that followed Malaysia’s campaign to evict them had triggered a bigger exodus of Filipinos leaving the territory for Mindanao where prospects of job and livelihood are bleak.

More than 4,000 Filipinos have left Sabah since the start of Malaysia’s crackdown on March 5, officials said. The number is expected to swell as hundreds more have remained undocumented.

Proof needed

Insisting that the eight accused were not Filipinos, sultanate spokesman Abraham Idjirani said Malaysia should reveal where its forces had captured the men, or at least show photos of the detainees to the media as proof.

“We admit that the 10 earlier reported as captured were RSF (royal security force) members as they were captured in Tanjung Batu and Lahad Datu. We need to know where the eight who are now facing charges for terrorism were captured. The RSF has remained in Lahad Datu,” Idjirani said.

“The Malaysian government, at the least, should provide Philippine media agencies with photos of the eight arrested men so we could really verify if they are indeed RSF fighters,” he added.

On Friday, Idjirani denied the eight men were Filipinos and revealed that one of them – identified in the Malaysia media as Hooland Kalibi – had even assumed the identity of a sultanate fighter killed last March 1 by Malaysian forces. The man had also claimed having been paid to join the sultanate’s forces in Sabah.

Idjirani said “a relative of the wife” of the leader of the sultanate’s armed followers in Sulu, Agbimuddin Kiram, brother of the sultan, provided the information.

“They (Malaysians) are lying through their teeth. They are fooling the Philippine government and the entire world,” he said last Friday. “Malaysia will continue to lie so that the sultanate will not get any support from President Aquino, from our own government. Malaysia is fooling the world.”

The eight men were charged with “waging war” against the royalty and with terrorism. Two of the accused face the death penalty.

Idjirani said more than a hundred Filipinos in Sabah have been arrested under Malaysia’s Security Offences (Special Measures) Act of 2012 for allegedly supporting the “royal sultanate force” which entered Sabah on Feb. 12. More than 200 others face charges for immigration offenses.

Idjirani also said Agbimuddin is still in Sabah with 161 armed followers contrary to claims by Malaysian authorities that he had left the territory and is now in hiding in Mindanao.

“The Raja Muda is still in Sabah but his force has spilt up into smaller groups and are now engaged in guerrilla warfare,” he said.

Idjirani also said they are reviving a complaint against Malaysia before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) for the country’s “usurping the Sulu Sultan’s power and authority” over Sabah. The sultanate, he said, is also seeking $35 billion claim from Malaysia for the latter’s “exploiting” the resources of Sabah from 1963 to 2005.

But Idjirani admitted pursuing the ICJ case is an uphill battle considering the absence of an endorsement from the Philippine government.

“As a private entity, we cannot push for it. We need an endorsement from a sovereign government. We can enlist the endorsement of any country for this, but the Sultan of Sulu prefers to get the endorsement from the Philippine government,” he said.

Not only Filipinos

Even Indonesians in Sabah were reportedly reeling from Malaysia’s crackdown on the sultanate’s followers.

“They are also targeting the Indonesians. Quite a number of Filipinos and Indonesians have been rounded up and subjected to questioning by the Malaysian police,” a Filipino working for a private firm in Sabah said.

He also said Tausugs from Sulu still appeared to be the principal target of the crackdown.

On Friday, 36 more refugees mostly children, landed on Taganak Island from Sandakan.

“Thirty-six new evacuees arrived (Friday) aboard several small boats from Sandakan,” said Tawi-Tawi police provincial director Senior Superintendent Joselito Salido.

One evacuee said he and his family had to pay 500 ringgits each to a boat operator.

“Many are in hiding in Sandakan while waiting for boats that will take them to Taganak,” 31-year-old refugee Basil Aliauddin said.

In Basilan, the provincial government has set up a reception area at the compound of the Lamitan District Hospital, a 40-minute ride from the capital city.

“When the Malaysian police operasi or crackdown begins in Sabah on Monday, we anticipate more returnees,” a Lamitan-based military medic said.

He said the provincial government decided to establish a reception center at the hospital compound so that those needing medical attention would be promptly attended to.

In Sulu, reception centers have been put up at smaller ports in anticipation of the influx of more refugees.

In Tawi-Tawi, a tent city has emerged at the compound of the provincial office of the Department of Public Works and Highways.

At least 34 Philippine Navy ships patrolling the Sulu Sea are on alert for refugees as well as gunmen wishing to sail to Sabah to reinforce the sultanate’s followers.

Meanwhile in Legazpi City, Team PNoy senatorial candidate Risa Hontiveros said the next Senate should vigorously help in resolving the Sabah issue once and for all.

“In the context of this complex issue, the present administration is addressing this issue seriously with the 16th Senate as a partner which is the treaty-making body of our country,” she said.

“If we remember, 45 years ago (was) the Jabidah Massacre, and now we are in the midst of a very difficult situation like the unresolved Sabah issue,” she told a press conference at the Albay Astrodome Friday afternoon.

Another Team PNoy senatorial candidate, Ramon Magsaysay Jr. said, “It is necessary to achieve a ceasefire so Malaysia and the Philippines can address diplomatic issue peacefully.” – With Mike Frialde, Jaime Laude, Celso Amo