Saycon answers Sabah allegations at NBI

MANILA, Philippines - Pastor "Boy" Saycon, one of the alleged instigators of Sulu Sultan Jamalul Kiram III to send his army to Sabah, on Tuesday appeared before the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).

Saycon, a political strategist and secretary general of the Council for Philippine Affairs (COPA), was accompanied by his legal counsel Leonard de Vera when he appeared before NBI director for intelligence Reynaldo Esmeralda.

Coming out from Esmeralda's office, Saycon denied the he is involved in the alleged "conspiracy theory" that led to the Sabah crisis, which has left more than 60 people dead and thousands of Filipinos displaced.

Saycon has admitted acting as an adviser to Kiram in bringing the sultanate’s Sabah claim to the United Nations, but clarified that he was acting on his own and not on behalf of COPA.

He also cleared COPA members Jose “Peping” Cojuangco Jr., and wife Margarita “Tingting” Cojuangco of any involvement.

Aside from Saycon, former National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales and former broadcast journalist Waldy Carbonel were also invited to appear before the NBI.

The Philippine Star had reported that President Aquino was furious over the Sabah incident, believing that it was instigated by certain people to sabotage the government's peace talks with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

Also being tagged as among the instigators was Moro National Liberation Front founding chairman Nur Misuari, who is opposed to the Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro signed by the government and the MILF last year.

In his recent visit to Sultan Kiram, Misuari denied the allegations. He also denied reports that he ordered his men to go to Sabah to augment members of the sultanate's army led by the sultan's brother, Raja Muda Agbimuddin Kiram.