Militants stage protest at Malaysian Embassy

MANILA, Philippines — Militant groups on Tuesday staged a protest at the Malaysian Embassy in Makati City amid fresh attacks on the Sultanate of Sulu’s ‘Royal Army,’ urging President Benigno Aquino III to “stop campaigning” and instead, focus on resolving the tension in Sabah.

Members of Migrante, Katribu, Bayan, Bayan Muna, and the Philippine Council for Islam and Democracy picketed in front of the embassy’s building on Tordesillas Street past 10 a.m., their spokespersons stood on makeshift platforms and aired their protests on the violence in Sabah.

“Dapat may intervention ng Presidente. Sana stand-off pa lang nag-intervene na siya at itinigil muna ang pangangampanya. Kung saan-saan siya nakarating, sana seryoso niyang harapin ito,” Connie Bragas-Regalado, Migrante chairperson told INQUIRER.net.

Yusuf Ledesma, co-convenor of PCID, told reporters on the sidelines of the rally that what they sought at this point was the intervention by the United Nations, the United States and the United Kingdom.

“What we are asking for is their intervention and for the issue to be resolved through proper channels, instead of fighting and shooting,” he said.

Regalado said that they believed that the Sultanate of Sulu’s claim on Sabah was “very legitimate.”

Policemen barricaded the entrance to the embassy, preventing protesters from advancing.

Authorities have earlier tightened security at the embassy in anticipation of possible rallies and Senior Superintendent Manuel Lukban Jr., Makati police chief, said he has deployed around 40 police officers to secure the area.

The groups left peacefully before noon but Regalado said they have planned an even bigger protest action at Mendiola on Wednesday.