Sulu sultanate to send delegation to Brunei

MANILA, Philippines - The sultanate of Sulu is considering sending a delegation to Brunei after failing to meet with Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah during his two-day state visit here.

“We will continue to write the sultan of Brunei as his country now heads the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). We will try to send a three-man team to meet with the members of the Sultan of Brunei’s council,” said Abraham Idjirani, spokesman for the sultanate of Sulu.

Idjirani said they would first raise money to fund the trip. He said the delegation is expected stay in Brunei for at least three days.

“We are financially handicapped. This is an idea under consideration,” he said.

Idjirani said they believe that despite denials from Malacañang, issues related to Sabah were discussed between Bolkiah and President Aquino.

Idjirani said it was likely that the President explained to Bolkiah the government’s position on Sabah, particularly the impression that the Brunei sultan favored the Malaysian government over the sultanate of Sulu on the standoff  in Sabah.

The sultanate of Sulu earlier criticized Malacañang for “preempting” the decision of Bolkiah on the request of Sulu sultan Jamalul Kiram III to have an audience with him.

The sultanate had earlier sent a letter to the embassy of Brunei requesting for a meeting between Bolkiah and Kiram.

Malacañang had announced that Bolkiah would not be able to meet Kiram because he had a full schedule during his state visit.

“The schedule is quite tight. I don’t see any opportunity for that – or, at least, for the visit of the sultan here,” Palace deputy spokesperson Abigail Valte had said over state-run radio dzRB.

Meanwhile, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said it is still working on a financial program for those affected by the standoff in Sabah under the conditional cash transfer (CCT) program. – With Rainier Allan Ronda