Philippines to probe conspiracy claims
An investigation of a possible conspiracy behind the Sulu intrusion of Sabah is warranted, Philippine officials reportedly said, to determine the cause of the violence.
An investigation of a possible conspiracy behind the Sulu intrusion of Sabah is warranted, Philippine officials reportedly said, to determine the cause of the violence.
Philippine deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte reportedly told the dzRB radio station that it is president Benigno Aquino III's (right) wish to run the investigation in parallel with efforts to resolve the crisis peacefully.
The archipelago nation's online news portal PhilStar also quoted her telling the station that the move is in line with UN secretary-general Ban Ki-Moon's call for an immediate cessation of hostilities.
The report today also noted presidential palace officials had previously questioned the now-defunct Sulu sultanate's ability to finance their Sabah incursion, and believes that its followers were lured by a promise of US$600 each.
It says Philippine authorities are also investigating the possibility that the armed expedition was to embarrass both the Malaysian and Philippine governments and be used in the sultanate's claims on Sabah.
The Philippine National Bureau of Investigation has reportedly launched its probe two days ago by calling the sultanate's adviser Pastor ‘Boy' Saycon for questioning, while Aquino is supposed to inform Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak of the alleged conspiracy's ringleaders.
Allegations denied
However, self-proclaimed Sulu sultan Jamalul Kiram's spokesperson, Jacel Kiram, reportedly denied the allegations and said the ‘real conspiracy' was between Najib and Aquino.
She reportedly claimed that this was to appease Malaysia as it mediates peace negotiations between the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front militants, while distracting the public from the ongoing violence in Sabah.
"Today, the imaginary conspiracy was propagated through text messaging to divert attention away from the true issue.
"The conspiracy theory is an insult to the Filipino people and to the sultanate of Sulu, more so to the raja muda (Azzimuddie Kiram, who leads close to 200 insurgents in Sabah) and his people," Jacel (left) reportedly told the Philippine media yesterday.
