Manila starts probe on Sabah conflict, summons Kiram adviser

President Benigno Aquino answers questions during a news conference at the Malacanang presidential palace in Manila February 26, 2013. — Reuters file picKUALA LUMPUR, March 9 — The Philippine National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) kicked off its investigation into the Sabah violence yesterday, summoning Sulu Sultanate adviser Pastor “Boy” Saycon for questioning next Tuesday.

Media reports in the Philippines said the subpoena was likely part of the NBI’s pursuit of conspiracy claims in the ongoing armed conflict between Malaysian security forces and the Sulu “royal army” in the east Malaysian state.

Quoting the Sultanate’s spokesman Abraham Idjirani, The Philippine Star said this was the start of the government’s “crackdown” on the self-proclaimed Sulu Sultan Jamalul Kiram III’s followers, who are now bracing themselves for the possibility of facing criminal charges for starting the rebellion in Sabah.

The daily said the subpoena, signed by Intelligence Services deputy director Reynaldo Esmeralda, was delivered at 4pm yesterday to Saycon’s office in Makati by NBI agents.

Self-proclaimed Sultan of Sulu, Jamalul Kiram’s (picture) brother Agbimuddin Kiram is leading the band of rebels in Sabah. — Reuters picSaycon, the Council for Philippine Affairs (COPA) secretary-general, has been linked to destabilisation plots in past administrations, according to ABS-CBN News in its online report yesterday.

“I suspect it would be because of the recent developments and the entry into Sabah,” Saycon told The Philippine Star, despite admitting he had yet to read the subpoena.

“It is anticipated that supporters of the sultan will be charged. They are now preparing the ground for more subpoenas… the threat of the government has been lingering for the past two weeks.”

The political strategist also reported that the Sulu Sultanate has put together a team of lawyers to assist supporters who may be investigated or hauled to court over the Sabah violence, which Malaysian authorities said on Thursday have claimed the lives of 52 Filipinos and eight Malaysians.

“I think the government wants to put up a conspiracy without any basis and blame people instead of solving the worsening crisis in Sabah,” Saycon alleged, according to the English broadsheet.

According to previous reports, Saycon has admitted to being the Kiram clan’s adviser on foreign, economic and cultural relations for over a decade now but denied pushing the Sulu “royal” army to attempt taking over Sabah.

The Philippine Star said NBI director Nonnatus Rojas could not be reached for comment to confirm the purpose of the subpoena, but pointed out that he had recently said the bureau was investigating “the people behind the Sabah incident.”

I think the government wants to put up a conspiracy without any basis and blame people instead of solving the worsening crisis in Sabah. — Sulu Sultanate adviser Pastor “Boy” Saycon

The paper also reported the Philippine government as saying yesterday that Kiram’s men in Sabah may have only joined the Sulu forces after being lured by money.

“We’ve seen also in some reports in media, that some of them… part of the royal sultanate forces, were paid $600… were promised to be paid $600. They were promised land, they were promised positions in the sultanate. That is not being denied,” presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda was quoted as saying.

Jamalul’s brother Agbimuddin Kiram, the self-proclaimed crown prince of the Sulu Sultanate, is leading the band of over 200 rebels in the east Malaysian state of Sabah, where the group have been holed-up since February 9.

The armed men faced their first clash with Malaysian security forces last Friday, after weeks of peaceful negotiations failed, and subsequent skirmishes over the weekend reportedly saw many Sulu gunmen felled, as well as eight Malaysian policemen.

Malaysia launched an all-out assault on Tuesday morning, including an aerial attack that saw bombs and heavy artillery fire rained down on the now-beleaguered Kampung Tanduo where the men were hiding.

As of Thursday, Malaysian authorities placed the Sulu death toll at 52, with 32 killed during ground skirmishes following Tuesday’s aerial assault.