Sultan bucks 'disengagement' option

MANILA, Philippines - Sultan of Sulu and North Borneo Jamalul Kiram III said his brother Bantilan sultan Esmail Kiram II has no authority to discuss the issue of disengagement with Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas.

Kiram also told reporters that he was surprised to learn that Roxas and his brother have began exploring the issue of disengagement.

The Philippines has conveyed to Malaysia on Tuesday the readiness of the sultanate of Sulu to “disengage” with Malaysian forces in Sabah to prevent further bloodshed.

Manila has also started discussing the Sulu sultanate’s “disengagement” from Sabah to end the violence as reports of human rights violations continue to rise.

Roxas’s discussion in Camp Crame with Esmail reportedly focused on establishing a mechanism for laying down arms by some 300 followers of the sultan still entrenched in Sabah.

Jamalul told reporters that  there was nothing mentioned to him about the disengagement option following the meeting between Roxas and his brother.

“They reported to me that they have just talked. Nag-usap lang sila…iyon ang report niya (Bantilan),” he said.

When asked if there was mention of the disengagement in Esmail’s report to him after his talk with Roxas. 

“Wala, wala, wala,” Jamalul said.

Jamalul told reporters that Esmail apparently acted without Jamalul's consent.

“I have no idea. I don't like him to talk to anybody. I told him to stay with me,” he said.

Jamalul added that he is against the proposed disengagement as an option to end the conflict in Sabah. He added that he will still have to consult with his brother Raja Muda Agbimuddin Kiram who is heading the more than 200-strong Royal Sulu Army now in conflict with the Malaysian security forces in Sabah.

“Wala wala. Hindi ko papayagan. Actually if that will happen, I have to ask  my other brother as well,” he said.

“Iyon ang ayaw ko. Kumbaga sa baseball nasa third base na ako bakit pa ako aalis, mag backout pa ako?” he added. 

Jamalul however  said  he is still open to negotiations.

“From the beginning...my door is open for negotiations. Sinabi ko everytime, my door is open for negotiations,” he said.

Jamalul also slammed Malacañang for talking to his brother Esmail and not with him on the proposed disengagement option.

“'Pag may pinagusapan dapat ako ang kausapin nila,” he said.

“Masakit. Bilang kapatid masakit talaga. Ginagamit pangalan ko tapos not for the good and the welfare of the Filipino people,” he added.

Meamwhile, Jamalul said despite the meeting between his brother Esmail and Roxas, the Kiram family is united.

“I've been telling everybody that there is no division among the family. Kami nagkakaisa. Whatever it is, I believe na nagkakaisa kami,” he said.