KIRAM FAMILY DENIED DISENGAGEMENT PROPOSED BY PHILIPINES GOV’T

MANILA -  The Philippine government sent summons to a Muslim sultan, his family members, staff, non-Muslim supporters and the founding chairman of a former secessionist Muslim rebel group for investigation into an alleged conspiracy against President Benigno Aquino following the occupation of a Malaysian village in Sabah by the sultan’s brother and over 300 followers in February.

 

• Sultan Jamalul Kiram, 75, his wife Cecilia Fatima, his daughter Jacel, his brother and acting Sultan Esmail Kiram, 73, his brother-in-law Abraham Idjirani, also secretary general and spokesman of the Royal Sultanate of Sulu, were summoned by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to shed light on the allegation that they received funding to launch an occupation on Tanduao village, Lahad Datu in Sabah on February 9.
• however,  members of the Kiram family denied considering “disengagement” as announced Monday by Interior Secretary Manuel Roxas II after talks with Sultan Bantilan Esmail Kiram II, brother of Sulu Sultant Jamalul Kiram III.
• Earlier, the sultanate’s spokesman, Abraham Idjirani, said although the Kirams had authorized the dialogue between Esmail and Roxas, it was the Interior secretary who unilaterally mentioned “disengagement” and that the notion had not been discussed by the family.
• Briefing media in her home in Maharlika Village, Taguig City on Tuesday, Pangyan Fatima Celia Kiram, Jamalul III’s wife, said the family had never considered disengagement, adding they were aware that the term was likely to be perceived as a willingness on the part of Agbimuddin, the crown prince, and his group to surrender.

Fatima said any decision regarding the disposition of the group in Sabah “will come from Sultan Jamalul and other family members, including Bantilan (Esmail), and those who lost loved ones. We do not want to make it appear this is our decision alone because we want a collective decision.”

In a separate interview, the Sulu sultan’s daughter, Princess Jacel Kiram, said her uncle Agbimuddin has so far confirmed losing 23 members of his group since hostilities broke out on March 1.

Source: Agencies