THE Aquino administration should share the liability for the bloody end of the stand-off in Sabah, wherein at least three people were confirmed dead, according to partylist group Kabataan.
At least three people, two of which are Malaysian policemen, were confirmed dead after Malaysian forces assaulted Laha Datu, Sabah where followers of the Sultan of Sulu have been standing their ground for almost three weeks. The Kiram family also reported that 10 of their followers died in the encounter.
Kabataan Partylist President Terry Ridon noted that the stand-off was an offshoot of loopholes in the ongoing negotiations under the Bangsamoro Framework Agreement.
“The standoff in Sabah is a manifestation that there are still pertinent issues in the ongoing peace negotiations with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) that need to be addressed. From the very beginning, we have pointed out that there are still many controversies in the Bangsamoro Framework Agreement that the government has failed to resolve, such as the case of the sultanate of Sulu,” Ridon said.
Ridon added that the government’s vacillating stand on the issue escalated the conflict in Sabah.
“There are several factors that escalated the stand-off in Sabah into a grim bloodbath. First, instead of negotiating with the Kirams and pursuing the legitimacy of the sultanate’s claim to Sabah, the government seemingly cornered the sultan’s followers by asking them to go back to the Philippines while also threatening to file cases against the sultan and his followers. This left the sultan’s followers with virtually no options to speak of,” Ridon said.
“Second, with the Philippine government following a line that is essentially against the sultanate of Sulu, it basically encouraged Malaysia to take drastic actions against the sultan’s followers,” Ridon added.
‘Double standards’
Kabataan Partylist also criticized the way that the government “essentially gave up” on the Sabah claim too easily with President Aquino even quoted as saying that it is a “hopeless cause,” even if the sultanate of Sulu has compelling historical and legal bases to back its claim.
“While the government is vehemently opposing Chinese occupation of Spratlys and Panatag Shoal, it essentially raised the white flag in Sabah without hesitation, even if it is clear that the Philippines has a strong case to claim sovereignty over the disputed land,” Ridon said.
Kabataan Partylist called on the government to actively pursue diplomatic talks with the Malaysian government and ensure that no more casualties would result from the stand-off.
“We also call on the government to support and revive the Sabah claim with fervor, and raise the issue to international courts if necessary,” Ridon said.
Absentee president
Meanwhile, Kabataan Partylist Rep. Raymond Palatino hit Aquino for “essentially being absent” during a crisis situation.
“Where is the President at this point when our Muslim brothers in Sabah are being killed? He’s out there campaigning with his party and basically not performing his duties as chief executive,” Palatino said.
”In times of crisis, a president should be present and directly handling the issue, not out in the field campaigning for his partymates,” Palatino said.