P-Noy told to pursue 'back channel' talks on Sabah standoff

MANILA, Philippines - Lawmakers on Tuesday urged the Aquino administration to pursue back channel talks with the leaders of the Royal Army of the Sultanate of Sulu to end the impasse and avoid further bloodshed.

“We really lament the loss of lives on both sides of the conflict.  This is truly a critical and thorny issue. A peaceful resolution through back channeling is still possible," Rep Angelo Palmones (Party-list, Agham) said.

Palmones said it is too late in the day if government would just lean primarily on diplomatic efforts, surmising that the government “should have learned handling cases like this after the Luneta fiasco.”

“It’s only through a back channel initiative to reach out to the leaders of the Sultanate’s royal army that government can convince them to withdraw honorably,” Palmones added.

On the other hand, Rep. Teddy Casiño (Party-list, Bayan Muna) said there should be a dialogue between Sultan Kiram and President Aquino. “In fact, it should have been done long ago.”

Still hopeful of a peace resolution, Casiño said, “President Aquino can also initiate a dialogue between the Philippines, Malaysia and the Sultanate of Sulu.”

“I think it is not too late,” Casiño pointed out even as he disagreed with the government’s hard line policy and threat to prosecute the Sultan and his men for the Sabah incident.

“How can they go home if they will be prosecuted?” Casiño asked.

Likewise, Rep. Reena Concepcion Obilio (Partylist, Una and Pamilya) said the issue could be resolved peacefully.

“A win-win solution could still be forged considering the cultural and historical aspects of the Sabah claim.”