Manila: The Philippine government sent summons to a Muslim sultan, his family members, staff, non-Muslim supporters and the founding chairman of a former secessionist Muslim rebel group for investigation into an alleged conspiracy against President Benigno Aquino following the occupation of a Malaysian village in Sabah by the sultan’s brother and over 300 followers in February.
Sultan Jamalul Kiram, 75, his wife Cecilia Fatima, his daughter Jacel, his brother and acting Sultan Esmail Kiram, 73, his brother-in-law Abraham Idjirani, also secretary general and spokesman of the Royal Sultanate of Sulu, were summoned by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to shed light on the allegation that they received funding to launch an occupation on Tanduao village, Lahad Datu in Sabah on February 9.
“This is the start of a crackdown by the government on the sultan’s followers,” said Idjirani.
“We will be at the NBI’s office,” Fatima said earlier, but the Kiram family eventually decided that they would instead be represented by Idjirani, the spokesman of the Royal Sultanate of Sulu.
It is not know whether the NBI also summoned the sultan’s younger brother, Raja Mudda Agbimudin Kiram who led the occupation in Tanduao village, which has resulted in clashes with Malaysian forces that have killed over 60 people.
On Monday, Sultan Bantilan Esmail Kiram II met with Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas to discuss “disengagement” and the safe passage of his younger brother and army from Tanduao village to end the crisis.
The investigation could lead to the filing of charges against Sultan Kiram and his group, such as violation of Article 118, for inciting war or giving motives for reprisals under the Revised Penal Code, illegal possession of firearms, illegal assembly and violation of the election gun ban, said Justice Secretary Leila de Lima.
In response to the NBI’s summons, Nur Misuari, founding chairman of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), said he would not be able to attend the hearing, adding he was busy with his constituents in Sulu, southern Philippines. He asked the NBI to send his summons to Sulu.
Meanwhile, Pastor “Boy” Saycon, the political adviser of the Royal Sultanate of Sulu since 2000, also a political strategist and secretary general of the Council for Philippine Affairs (Copa), went to the NBI on Tuesday morning.
“The Philippine government wants to blame other people for the occupation of Tanduao village instead of solving the worsening crisis in Sabah,” said Saycon, adding his group has never advised the Kiram family.
