MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) is verifying reports that seven more Filipinos were charged Monday in Lahad Datu in connection with the Sabah standoff.
The sultanate of Sulu and North Borneo yesterday denied reports that it financed the incursion in Sabah last February.
DFA spokesman Raul Hernandez said there was no official communication from the Malaysian Foreign Ministry regarding the report.
“We are gathering more information to confirm reports that seven more Filipinos were charged in Lahad Datu yesterday,†Hernandez said.
“As part of the normal process, our embassy in Kuala Lumpur has inquired with Malaysian authorities the pertinent details, such as the names of those charged, their personal condition and the matter of legal representation,†he said.
Malacañang denied reports that Filipino diplomats were getting shabby treatment from their Malaysian counterparts due to the Sabah issue.
“We’ve always called for a peaceful resolution, that has not changed. Even up to now, we’ve always asked the Kiram family to desist,†presidential spokesman Edwin lacirda said in a press briefing yesterday.
The Palace also said Malaysia has nothing to do with the deferment of the peace talks between the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).
Lacierda said there was no new communication between President Aquino and Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak regarding Sabah. He stressed that the two issues ‑ Sabah and peace talks — should not be intertwined since the decision to give more time to discuss the annexes of the framework agreement came from the President himself.
He said the two countries treat each other with full diplomatic respect and comity, adding they would verify reports that stricter visa rules were being imposed on Filipinos going to Sabah.
The Palace also refused to comment on the bid of the Sulu sultanate to earn the support of the Catholic bishops and the Vatican on their claims over Sabah.
Hernandez said the embassy team would apply again for consular jail visit once they obtain information about the seven Filipinos.
Meantime, he said the team has submitted to President Aquino the full report of their visit to the eight Filipinos charged with terrorism-related offenses over the Sabah standoff. The eight were being held at a prison facility in Tawau.
But Hernandez could not confirm if they indeed were Malaysians and not Filipinos, after the family of Sulu sultan Jamalul Kiram III claimed the eight were Malaysians.
Sultanate spokesman Abraham Idjirani said Kiram could not afford to pay the royal security force (RSF) and their supporters to enter and press their proprietary claims over Sabah.
“We refute the allegation that Sultan Jamalul Kiram III paid members of the RSF to enter Sabah,†Idjirani said.
The Malaysian police earlier said it was investigating several Malaysians, including Datuk Seri Muhammad Ridzwan Sulaiman, president of a charity foundation, on suspicion that they financed the Sabah incursion.
Idjirani cited Ridzwan’s claims that he did not give money to Kiram but to another claimant to the Sulu throne he identified as Sultan Muedzul Lail Tan Kiram, a nephew of the Sulu sultan.
“Ridzwan has declared that he does not know Sultan Jamalul and Raja Muda. This could only mean that the conspiracy was hatched in Malaysia. They are using the charity foundation to challenge the legitimacy of the sultan of Sulu,†he said, adding it was Ridzwan who financed the coronation last December of Muedzul. – With Aurea Calica, Mike Frialde, Jaime Laude