Philippines not renouncing Sabah claim

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine government clarifies it is not completely renouncing its claim on Sabah despite calls to the Royal Army of the Sultanate of Sulu to retreat and surrender.

In a press conference Saturday afternoon, Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said the president is not renouncing the claim over Sabah contrary to the criticisms of the family of Sulu Sultan Jamalul Kiram III.

"We are studying the Sabah claim. They are accusing the president of renouncing the claim, that is inconsistent with the statement of the President when he said that he have tasked a group to study the claim," he explains.

This despite the continuous call of the Palace for the Sulu Sultanate to surrender without condition and go back to the Philippines to avoid further bloodshed.

Three weeks ago, forces of the Sulu Sultanate started camping in Lahad Datu, Sabah to enforce their claim of the region.

On Friday, gunfire ensued between the royal army and the Malaysian forces resulting to death of 12 Sulu gunmen and two from the Malaysian police.

Through a letter, Crown Prince Datu Raja Muda Agbimuddin Kiram, leader of the royal army in Lahad Datu,  expressed his defiance that they would rather die than leave Sabah and surrender their claim over the region.

He said the their remaining 224 men "decided to die in Lahad Datu in pursuit of their dreams and aspirations and have decided to put everything in the hands of Allah."

The Sulu Sultanate's claim over Sabah is based on historic records even documents proving that the Malaysian government is paying the Sultan for its use.  - Photo courtesy of ABS-CBNNews.com



Filipino version can be read here: Palasyo: Pag-angkin sa Sabah, hindi ibinabasura ni PNoy