As casualties rise in the Sabah crisis, Malacañang on Monday renewed its call for followers of Sulu Sultan Jamalul Kiram III still holed up in the area to surrender and prevent more bloodshed.
"Sa ngayon nasa kamay ng Malaysian armed forces 'yung operation diyan sa Lahad Datu. Ang magagawa lang natin ay makiusap ulit na mag-surrender na lang muna para wala nang mamatay na Pilipino," Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Office head Ricky Carandang said on GMA News TV's Kape at Balita.
As of Monday morning, 27 people have been reported killed since violence broke out on Friday.
Initially, two Malaysian police commandos were killed along with 12 of the followers of the Sulu Sultanate following a 17-day standoff.
Twelve more were killed over the weekend, including six Malaysian policemen and six Filipinos, according to Malaysia's state-run Bernama news agency and Agence France-Presse.
On Sunday, a report on Bernama said villagers beat to death a man armed with an M16 rifle. The man was believed involved in the ambush that killed five policemen Saturday night in Kampung Sri Jaya in Simunul, Semporna in Sabah.
'Honor over life'
On Saturday, President Benigno Aquino III called on the Kiram followers to yield without conditions, but Kiram’s camp rejected the call and chose “honor over life,” a previous report said.
According to deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte, Kiram’s camp had so far rejected the Palace’s efforts to talk to them, dismissing its officials as “people (who) are only claiming to represent the president.”
Carandang said that since the beginning of the standoff, the Philippine government had been sending representatives to the Malaysian government, as well as to the Kiram family.
"Marami tayong taong pinadala doon para makipag-usap sa kanila. Ang mensahe namin ganito: Hindi ito 'yung tamang paraan para ilunsad 'yung kanilang claim sa Sabah. Puwede namang mapayapang paraan at alinsunod sa batas. Hindi naman kailangan [sa] ganitong klaseng paraan," said Carandang, adding that it is the message and not the messenger that is important.
Carandang said that since the beginning of the standoff, the Philippine government had been sending representatives to the Malaysian government, as well as to the Kiram family.
"Marami tayong taong pinadala doon para makipag-usap sa kanila. Ang mensahe namin ganito: Hindi ito 'yung tamang paraan para ilunsad 'yung kanilang claim sa Sabah. Puwede namang mapayapang paraan at alinsunod sa batas. Hindi naman kailangan [sa] ganitong klaseng paraan," said Carandang, adding that it is the message and not the messenger that is important.
"Ang mensahe nila, huwag tayong gumawa ng kilos na mauuwi sa karahasan. Kasi hindi lang naman ang pamilyang Kiram ang naaapektuhan dito," he said, noting that there are up to 800,000 Filipinos living in Sabah who may be affected by the standoff.
"Ang kinakatakutan namin baka ipitin sila ng pamahalaan ng Malaysia. May ibang tao na walang pakialam dito, hindi naman sila kasama dito, at nadadamay po sila," he said.
"Ang kinakatakutan namin baka ipitin sila ng pamahalaan ng Malaysia. May ibang tao na walang pakialam dito, hindi naman sila kasama dito, at nadadamay po sila," he said.
Carandang also said the Philippine government was still waiting for confirmation on reports that Kiram's forces were growing.
"Ayaw namin maglabas ng impormasyon na 'yun pala ay mali. Kaya medyo maingat kami maglabas ng updates at impormasyon. Hinihintay muna namin na magkaroon ng confirmation," Carandang said.
The sultan's camp said "sketchy" reports reaching them showed the conflict could reach Kunak and the interior of Lahad Datu, a dzBB radio report said earlier on Monday.
Meanwhile, Malaysia's The Star online said there had been sightings of at least 10 men in military outfits in Kunak.
Casualties
Casualties
Last Friday, Kiram's camp claimed 10 Filipinos were killed while four others were wounded when Malaysian authorities allegedly fired at them.
Malacañang, however, denied the claim, and said that based on information reaching the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), there were no casualties nor a gunfight.
Later that day, Malaysian police said 12 followers of Kiram died in a shootout with Malaysian security forces.
Carandang explained that Valte's information was based on Friday morning's incident, where Kiram's followers attempted to break through the cordon, causing Malaysian security forces to fire a warning shot. "Doon sa umaga, walang namatay at walang nabaril. Pagkatapos nun, ilang oras pagkatapos nun, ay nagkaroon ng bakbakan," he said.
Carandang explained that Valte's information was based on Friday morning's incident, where Kiram's followers attempted to break through the cordon, causing Malaysian security forces to fire a warning shot. "Doon sa umaga, walang namatay at walang nabaril. Pagkatapos nun, ilang oras pagkatapos nun, ay nagkaroon ng bakbakan," he said.
He said Malacañang received reports of the firefight throughout the day, but waited for confirmation before releasing the information. "Noong gabi na 'yun noong na-confirm na natin na may encounter nga, agad naming nilabas na nagkaroon ng encounter at parang nag-condole pa nga kami doon sa mga namatay," Carandang said.
In reiterating the government's call for Kiram's followers to surrender, Carandang assured them that the President will study the legal and historical basis of the Sabah claim. "Titingnan niya kung ano 'yung basehan at ano 'yung magagawa. Pero gagawin natin ito sa tamang paraan at sa tamang panahon," he said.
He also said that should they return to the Philippines, Kiram's followers would be treated in accordance with the law. "Kapag lumabag sila sa batas, kailangan managot sila... 'di naman natin puwedeng sabihin na mae-exempt sila," Carandang said.
The group has so far remained defiant. An earlier report on Malaysia's The Star online quoted Sultan Jamalul Kiram III's brother Raja Muda Azzimudie Kiram as saying he and his followers would fight to the death.
According to the report, Raja Muda Azzimudie, in his latest text message to his elder brother Kiram in Manila, said that "after burying 10 of his followers including a woman at sundown, everyone of the 224 left decided to die in Lahad Datu in pursuit of their dreams." — Carmela G. Lapeña/RSJ/KG, GMA News
According to the report, Raja Muda Azzimudie, in his latest text message to his elder brother Kiram in Manila, said that "after burying 10 of his followers including a woman at sundown, everyone of the 224 left decided to die in Lahad Datu in pursuit of their dreams." — Carmela G. Lapeña/RSJ/KG, GMA News
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