Aquino to Sulu gunmen: ‘Surrender now’

2:42 pm | Saturday, March 2nd, 2013

President Benigno Aquino III. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—President Benigno Aquino III on Saturday urged the followers of Sultan Jamalul Kiram III to “surrender now” as he admonished them for choosing a wrong path to stake their claim on Sabah.

“If you have grievances, the path you chose was wrong,” Aquino said in a statement, a day after the more than two-week-old siege in a remote village in Lahad Datu turned deadly.

“The just, and indeed, the only correct thing for you to do is to surrender,” he said.

Twelve of the close to 200 Filipinos in Sabah and two Malaysian security personnel were killed in Friday’s firefight that was reported to have ended the standoff.

The dozens of Kiram followers have been holed up on Borneo Island, surrounded by a massive Malaysian police and military cordon, since landing by boat from Mindanao to insist the area belongs to their Islamic leader.

Aquino said Manila’s efforts to prevent a bloodbath had become futile as the group stayed on to press their claim to Sabah.

“To our citizens in Lahad Datu, from the very start our objective has been to avoid the loss of lives and the shedding of blood. However, you did not join us in this objective,” he said.

“Because of the path you have taken, what we have been trying to avoid has come to pass,” he said.

“To those who have influence and the capacity to reason with those in Lahad Datu, I ask you to convey this message: surrender now, without conditions.” With Agence France-Presse

Recent Stories:

Complete stories on our Digital Edition newsstand for tablets, netbooks and mobile phones; 14-issue free trial. About to step out? Get breaking alerts on your mobile.phone. Text ON INQ BREAKING to 4467, for Globe, Smart and Sun subscribers in the Philippines.

Tags: Lahad Datu , Malaysia , of Sultan Jamalul Kiram III , Philippines , Sabah claim , Sultanate of Sulu

tita_cacayan

Tausog be wary now there are people riding the issue .they want logging concession ,oil contract ,mining and squatting .check the money where it coming from, first ask robin padilla where he get the 500,000 thou

Matambaka

Why are you afraid? If i have millions i will donate too. In facebook more ofw asks for Sultans bank account..more patriotic Pinoy wants to Help… Majority of Pinoy supports the struggle of our Muslim brother.

You underestimate Robin?

llll0000

Wow. There’s a lot of pinoy’s that support war? Because this ‘struggle’ is war. Can you imagine people dying to a land that will never belong to them? Just imagine, if they would win against Malaysia, they also have to contend with the revolt of the people of Sabah. That needs a lot of money and a lot of high tech weapons. if philippines would support the sultan, it would drain the country’s money and at the end we would still be in the losing end. Because IF after we defeated Malaysia and convince sabahans to side with us, can we also convince the sultan for us to govern their land? Don’t you think that these same people we help will revolt against the government?
tita_cacayan

lets see if the sabahans can whistand our leaders specially if UNA win ,you will all running out of sabah
Tun Mohd Firdaus

what ever it is no violence act should be promote…
Tun Mohd Firdaus

it seem this matambaka love blood, grieve, suffer.. this are symptom of mental illness that can lead to psychopath criminal.. if u have something to claim go to court not raise the weapon. this is 2013. for ur info malaysia had lost several land claim based on the world court. the citizen sadly accepted it. for example pulau batu putih that goes to singapore. our people not raise our weapon againts singapore… it is not right to act in violence ways…
http://profile.yahoo.com/JKS7Y3WBUOJPOMTYPCRXSKW7KM Franzeline Perdubal

Afraid? Not foolish?

Analyze this further and dont be played by Kiram and his financiers.

100345roselia

Reading in-between the lines of Pinoy’s statements to Sultan Kiram seems to be more accom- modating to the Malaysian gov;t. Examples of Pinoy’ statements: 1) Surrender now, 2) Admonish-
ing Sultan Kiram’s men for choosing a wrong path to stake their claim on Sabah, 3) If you have
grievances, the path you chose was wrong, 4) The just, & indeed, the only correct thing for you
to do is to surrender, If you were in the shoes of Sultan Kiram, how would you feel such state-
ments? Would it soften or harden the position of Sultan Kiram? Was it insulting or degrading?
Was there any leeway or opening for Sultan Kiram to withdraw peacefully w/out losing his face?
http://profile.yahoo.com/JKS7Y3WBUOJPOMTYPCRXSKW7KM Franzeline Perdubal

Kiram is a poor guy who cannot afford spending for an army to Sabah. Who are these people behind Kiram?

May maitim na tao na kumausap diyan to discredit this government. Open your eyes, Filipinos!

http://www.facebook.com/ramon.loteria Ramón Dizon Lotería

It seems to me Fran that you know very little of the “Moro” mentality? Why have we been at war with the Muslims in Mindanao? Land. Land. Land. Don’t tell me otherwise.My family has born the brunt of this almost losing our properties just because of disputes and these disputes were not settled in court but by the barrel of the gun. Land is everything. For a typical, poor Muslim man in the provinces, a gun/rifle is a status symbol, like a Rolex, to a “Sultan”, being landless is tantamount to being impotent. Reclaiming what he believes to be his birthright is not something to muck about. You may spindle conspiracy theories all around but I believe his action is rooted more in pride than in profit.

http://profile.yahoo.com/JKS7Y3WBUOJPOMTYPCRXSKW7KM Franzeline Perdubal

Answer my question.

I have worked in their areas, ate with them so no need to lecture me on who are the moros.

Who is behind Kiram as financiers?
Bernabe Dela Fuente

coward, bakla. Kahit ba sino nagsulsol .. pakialam mo. muslim sila, at sa tingin nila kanila ang sabah. tanga.. Kung ang presidente nga may adviser at consultant.. tangina this… bakla ka kasi kaya ganyan ka mangatwiran puro karuwagan. Kung gaya mo magiging presidente puro paninisi at pagsuko.. di nako magtataka pati sa china. urong na… pa unclos unclos pa. di naman matuloy..
http://profile.yahoo.com/JKS7Y3WBUOJPOMTYPCRXSKW7KM Franzeline Perdubal

E di makipaglaban ka dun sa Sabah. Atapang ka pala e.

Before you go to war, make sure you have the right reasons and without any doubt what you are fighting for.

If not, then you’d end up both dead and wrong.
http://www.facebook.com/ramon.loteria Ramón Dizon Lotería

Finance what? Logistically? Look at him? What is his line of supply? Basically his men looks to have bought all that they needed with what they can carry and that’s not much. How many kilos can you bring on a 20ft outrigger? How many men did he bring to the Sabah mainland? Do you know what it takes to supply a platoon strength for an extended period even with the most meager of means? I bet you the Malaysians were just waiting till the “royal army” was just about starved. Look at their weapons? Old M16A1′s, some M14′s, not a GPM on sight AFAIK. That’s hardly an organized combat unit. That can’t muster up against a well trained force. For all intents and purposes, these men may knowingly or not have entered into a situation that can only be described as a suicide mission. Thereby I conclude that this is more about pride. Pride in their belief and their leader. And I believe they have profited with this pride. That’s more than what I can say for people who cannot fathom dying for their beliefs. Sorry, based on what I can analyze, I cannot conclude any dark hand behind the scene poking and prodding. The act in itself may have been foolish – and that is the purity of its outcome. One that defies analysis in the logical lines.
http://profile.yahoo.com/JKS7Y3WBUOJPOMTYPCRXSKW7KM Franzeline Perdubal

Let’s ask ourselves the motives of Kiram. Was it for this Country?

Or was it for himself and the muslims only?
http://www.facebook.com/ramon.loteria Ramón Dizon Lotería

That is debatable. That is something that our president, his advisers and our intelligence community must have or should have looked into. All we can do is argue according to the news bias we are being fed with. But you know what this is doing to the government. It shows that we are not in control. Hernando Cortez burned his ships so that his men don’t leave and return to Spain, he made it clear to his men that the option was to win or die. Kiram landed on shore…..burned the ships and looked at Pnoy for leadership. His answer was surrender.

Matambaka

From Twitter:

============================================

@.MRMSAxxxxx

There’s shooting in Semporna which is about 240km from Lahad Datu

==================================================
Ay-Ay ‏@,,,,,,,,
Shooting incident at Semporna. Lahad Datu problem is not yet settle. How can our mind be at peace now? #PrayForSemporna. #PrayForLahadDatu
===========================================

Now Malaysia has another problem..A civil war is about to Start?
Platypus09

You have to be very careful because Kiram did NOT claim Sabah to annex to the Philippines.

He claimed it as part of Sultanate, meaning will create another country combining Sabah and Sulu.

Would that be beneficial to the Philippines? Absolutely NOT..!!!

That’s why Philippine Presidents don’t want to pursue the claim.

Do you guys understand that?

I will not support this claim, will you?

Be careful what you ask for.

Bernabe Dela Fuente

Isa pa rin kabaklaan ito… kayo sabi ng sabi mga kapwa ko filipinong muslim,o kababayan natin muslim ayaw nyo sila humiwalay sa pilipinas.. pero pagdating sa problema at sa trouble o gulo.. kanya kanya na…
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_J7CZYPZWNB37S6GTPBJQF6Y7BM Fight D Bigots

Where did you get your info? From fish vendors? The heirs of the sultan have authorized the Philippine government to pursue the claim on their behalf specifically indicating that Sabah, being a part of the Sulu Sultanate, rightfully belongs to the Philippine Republic.

But the Philippine government, due to various political and diplomatic reasons, has failed to effectively pursue the Sabah claim.
http://profile.yahoo.com/JKS7Y3WBUOJPOMTYPCRXSKW7KM Franzeline Perdubal

Dont worry Platypus. They can call us names. But we understand what this is all about. Stand your ground.

Matambaka

What is the legal basis of Sabah claim by the sultanate of sulu?

by Allan F Paguia

Answer:

Malaysia was formed and given independence by the British Government in 1963.

The Sultanate of Sulu and North Borneo was also given by the British Government the ‘Letter of Administration to Sabah, acknowledging all the property of the Sultanate of Sulu over Sabah in 1939. To the effect that1939 is earlier than 1963 explicitly telling us which one is genuine and legal.

Another striking solid and legal evidence of the Sabah ownership is the case filed by Indonesia to the United Nations to claim part of Sipadan,Sabah against Malaysia .

The UN ruling under ICJ explicitly stated that Indonesia has no sovereign rights over Sipadan,Sabah because it is owned by the Sultanate of Sulu under administration of Malaysia.

Therefore, if Malaysia will ot acknowledge the ownership by the Sultanate of Sulu over Sabah, Malaysia is directly violating ( for in fact being violated for 47 years) the UN sanctions over Sipadan, Sabah stating that the Sultanate of Sulu is the legitimate owner of Sabah.

Moreover , if Malaysia will not acknowledge the 1939 High Court decision and the implementation of the ‘Letter of Administration over Sabah that the Sultanate of Sulu is the owner of Sabah , Malaysia has to nullify their Independence given by the British Government in 1963 ,simply because it is the same government , the British Government who gave authority over the ownership of Sabah which is far earlier than their independence in 1963.

The continued ignoring of Malaysia to this day of the rights to possess the ownership, over Sabah by the Sultanate of Sulu Kingdom, creates a continuous anger on the part of the Sultanate people for prohibiting them ti live in their own land and even expulsing the people of the Sultanate living in Sabah today.

Tun Mohd Firdaus

Bla bla bls.. Write what u want to write death lover. Nothing change. Go to world court show ur argurment not by violence. All this show how rotten ur heart. Love violent more thn peace..

jclarendo

Aquino’s order to the soldier of sulu “suurender”. Mr President if you can’t help your own people and can’t afford to take action to take back what is part of RPI, why not just resign and leave to another president who can defend his country, who has the courage, who has the iron hands and command and can wear red shirt, red means bravery always on the attack not on the defense
http://www.facebook.com/franklyn.flores Franklyn Flores

I feel bad really… Sabah should have been fought but then there would be war which is worst…

Matambaka

Violence is escalating in Sabah Now…

Lahad Datu ==> Semporna (1 polis dead) ==> Kunak?

Aquino to Sulu gunmen: ‘Surrender now’

News

Sports

Lifestyle

Entertainment

Business

Technology

Opinion

Global Nation