Though the real motive of the armed intruders in Lahad Datu is still not known, speculation is rife that the invasion is part of a plot to derail the peace process between the Philippines government and the rebel group Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).
Filipino daily Philippine Daily Inquirer quoted Eid Kabalu, a former spokesman of MILF, as saying that he suspected Sulu Sultan Jamalul Kiram was being used to derail the Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro by angering Malaysia.
Another daily, The Philippine Star, quoted sources who claimed that the stand-off in Sabah has infuriated President Benigno Aquino III, who also suspects the intrusion was meant to sabotage the peace deal.
The agreement, brokered by Kuala Lumpur and signed by the Philippines and the MILF in Manila last October, is a preliminary peace agreement to end decades of conflict between Manila and the Islamic separatist movements in Mindanao.
It calls for the creation of an autonomous political entity named Bangsamoro to replace the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), which has failed to solve the conflict.
Filipino daily Philippine Daily Inquirer quoted Eid Kabalu, a former spokesman of MILF, as saying that he suspected Sulu Sultan Jamalul Kiram was being used to derail the Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro by angering Malaysia.
Another daily, The Philippine Star, quoted sources who claimed that the stand-off in Sabah has infuriated President Benigno Aquino III, who also suspects the intrusion was meant to sabotage the peace deal.
The agreement, brokered by Kuala Lumpur and signed by the Philippines and the MILF in Manila last October, is a preliminary peace agreement to end decades of conflict between Manila and the Islamic separatist movements in Mindanao.
It calls for the creation of an autonomous political entity named Bangsamoro to replace the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), which has failed to solve the conflict.
MNLF members among invaders from Sulu
Kabalu pointed out that Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) chairperson Nur Misuari had repeatedly admitted that some of Kiram's "royal security forces" were members of the MNLF.
"Now that the negotiations (are going) well, Kiram's group is trying to downgrade the framework agreement. Nur Misuari already admitted that some of his men are with Kiram," Kabalu said.
MNLF is a political organisation established by Misuari in 1969 to struggle against the Philippines government to achieve independence of the Bangsamoro Land or Mindanao Nation.
MNLF entered into an agreement with the Philippines government in 1976, accepting an offer of semi-autonomy for the region in dispute.
This led to the formation of a breakaway group in 1977, led by Hashim Salamat, which later came to be known as as the MILF.
Misuari opposed the Framework Agreement and openly supported the action of the armed group from Sulu that crossed into Sabah to claim the land.
According to an earlier AFP news report, Misuari said the group, which has been holed up in Lahad Datu since Feb 9, are the rightful heirs to Sabah.
"Now that the negotiations (are going) well, Kiram's group is trying to downgrade the framework agreement. Nur Misuari already admitted that some of his men are with Kiram," Kabalu said.
MNLF is a political organisation established by Misuari in 1969 to struggle against the Philippines government to achieve independence of the Bangsamoro Land or Mindanao Nation.
MNLF entered into an agreement with the Philippines government in 1976, accepting an offer of semi-autonomy for the region in dispute.
This led to the formation of a breakaway group in 1977, led by Hashim Salamat, which later came to be known as as the MILF.
Misuari opposed the Framework Agreement and openly supported the action of the armed group from Sulu that crossed into Sabah to claim the land.
According to an earlier AFP news report, Misuari said the group, which has been holed up in Lahad Datu since Feb 9, are the rightful heirs to Sabah.
'Malaysia backed deal to prevent renewed claim'
"They have the right. The Sultanate of Sulu is the owner of North Borneo," said Misuari, who was the former governor of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.
"They are the ones making the claim. My family, my clan from my father's side, is the legitimate claimant. What is important is for somebody or a group or representing the Bangsamoro people, the Tausugs, to claim ownership," Misuari is quoted as saying.
"They are the ones making the claim. My family, my clan from my father's side, is the legitimate claimant. What is important is for somebody or a group or representing the Bangsamoro people, the Tausugs, to claim ownership," Misuari is quoted as saying.
Misuari's group believes Malaysia backed the peace deal to prevent a renewed claim on Sabah.
Kiram had earlier said that he was prompted to send the group to Sabah after the sultanate was left out of the Framework Agreement.
Kiram had earlier said that he was prompted to send the group to Sabah after the sultanate was left out of the Framework Agreement.
The Sulu sultan has insisted that Sabah, which is about an hour away by motorboat from his strife-torn province, belonged to the sultanate before the territory was ceded to Malaysia by the British colonisers.
Misuari's lawyer and MNLF spokesperson Emmanuel Fontanillas also told the Philippine Daily Inquirer that Kiram's decision had Misuari's blessing.
"This is the current MNLF position," Fontanillas said, adding that Misuari even allowed MNLF men to join the sultan's group.
Misuari's lawyer and MNLF spokesperson Emmanuel Fontanillas also told the Philippine Daily Inquirer that Kiram's decision had Misuari's blessing.
"This is the current MNLF position," Fontanillas said, adding that Misuari even allowed MNLF men to join the sultan's group.
MILF: Sabah not part of our agenda
However MILF peace panel chief Mohagher Iqbal said he believed otherwise.
"Sabah is not part of the (MILF) agenda (in the talks) and it has no serious implication," Iqbal said.
Iqbal also played down Kabalu's statement that Kiram's revival of the Sabah claim would anger Malaysia.
"The MILF sees no repercussion," Iqbal said.
Kabalu said what Kiram and Kuala Lumpur should do is sit down and talk over the Sabah claim.
"There's no substitute to peaceful negotiation. Or else, this will end up in bloodshed," Kabalu warned.
According to The Philippine Star, several Philippine senators also feared that the stand-off may affect peace talks between MILF and Manila.
Senator Francis Escudero is calling for unanimous and non-partisan support from all sectors to help resolve the standoff in Sabah.
"Politics should be kept out of this issue, this is a matter of national interest," Escudero said, reacting to reports that Aquino was "furious" over the Sabah incident.
Senators Panfilo Lacson, Gregorio Honasan and Aquilino Pimentel III also aired their concerns over the latest developments on the issue and on reports that it is part of a plot to sabotage the peace process.
However MILF peace panel chief Mohagher Iqbal said he believed otherwise.
"Sabah is not part of the (MILF) agenda (in the talks) and it has no serious implication," Iqbal said.
Iqbal also played down Kabalu's statement that Kiram's revival of the Sabah claim would anger Malaysia.
"The MILF sees no repercussion," Iqbal said.
Kabalu said what Kiram and Kuala Lumpur should do is sit down and talk over the Sabah claim.
"There's no substitute to peaceful negotiation. Or else, this will end up in bloodshed," Kabalu warned.
According to The Philippine Star, several Philippine senators also feared that the stand-off may affect peace talks between MILF and Manila.
Senator Francis Escudero is calling for unanimous and non-partisan support from all sectors to help resolve the standoff in Sabah.
"Politics should be kept out of this issue, this is a matter of national interest," Escudero said, reacting to reports that Aquino was "furious" over the Sabah incident.
Senators Panfilo Lacson, Gregorio Honasan and Aquilino Pimentel III also aired their concerns over the latest developments on the issue and on reports that it is part of a plot to sabotage the peace process.
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