NBI to summon ex-GMA adviser

MANILA, Philippines - Pursuing the government’s conspiracy theory, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) will summon former national security adviser and defense secretary Norberto Gonzales for questioning in connection with the ongoing crisis in Sabah.

Aside from Gonzales, other personalities will be summoned by the bureau this week for questioning on the Sabah crisis, NBI Deputy Director for Intelligence Services Reynaldo Esmeralda told The STAR yesterday.

Gonzales had earlier admitted visiting Sulu Sultan Jamalul Kiram III at his house in Maharlika Village in Taguig City, but denied having any hand in the Sabah conflict.

Gonzales, national security chief during the Arroyo administration, said he never tried to persuade Kiram to send supporters to Sabah to claim the resource-rich state.

“The investigative committee is going to summon Gonzales and Carbonell to shed light on the Sabah incident,” Esmeralda said in a telephone interview.

He declined to give the full identity of “Carbonell.”

Esmeralda said a joint NBI-Philippine National Police (PNP) task force was created to pursue suspicions of a conspiracy in the crisis in Sabah.

Aside from Esmeralda, the task force is composed of two other NBI deputy directors and four officers from the Philippine National Police (PNP), all with the rank of colonel.

“What I’m certain is that Gonzales and Carbonell will also appear at the bureau to answer some questions,” Esmeralda said.

Highly placed sources at the NBI said that more names will come out this week after Malacañang ordered an investigation into the conspiracy to create unrest in Sabah.

The NBI on Friday summoned Pastor “Boy” Saycon, an adviser of the sultanate of Sulu and a political strategist and secretary- general of the Council for Philippine Affairs (COPA), for questioning.

Saycon was told to appear before the NBI tomorrow.

He has admitted acting as an adviser to Kiram in bringing the sultanate’s Sabah claim to the United Nations. Saycon describes himself as the sultan’s adviser on foreign, economic and cultural relations for the past 12 years.

He had earlier denied instigating the sultanate’s army to go to the coastal village of Lahad Datu in Sabah last month. He said he was working on his own with Kiram on the Sabah claim, clearing COPA members Jose “Peping” Cojuangco Jr., the President’s uncle, and wife Margarita “Tingting” Cojuangco of involvement.

The Malaysian police on Friday announced the arrest of 79 people in Sabah believed to have links with the group of Raja Muda Agbimuddin Kiram in Lahad Datu, the scene of fierce fighting that has claimed more than 60 lives.

The Sabah incursion occurred at a time when Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak is running for re-election and the Philippines is having its elections in May.

 President Aquino has questioned the financial capability of the Kirams and their followers to go to Lahad Datu with high-powered firearms.

There were reports that the sultan’s followers were promised $600 to sail to Sabah.

The sultan’s supporters in Sabah are accompanied by members of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) identified with founding chairman Nur Misuari.

Authorities are also looking into the possibility that the Sabah incursion was meant to embarrass the Philippines and Malaysia, which brokered the peace talks between the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.

The sultan and his followers reportedly felt left out in the peace negotiations with the MILF. Under the framework peace agreement with the MILF, the creation of a Bangsamoro entity will affect lands claimed by the Sulu sultanate.