A handout picture made available by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines-News (CBCP-News) shows Sultan Jamalul Kiram III (left), who claims the eastern Malaysian state of Sabah as under his sultanate, at a meeting with CBCP President Archbishop Jose Palma in Manila yesterday.


By Johanna M Sampan & Ritchie A Horario/Manila Times

Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma and the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) president, yesterday assured the sultanate of Sulu and North Borneo under Jamalul Kiram that the human rights violations committed by Malaysian authorities against Filipinos in Sabah will be brought to the Vatican City.

Palma, who will leave for the Vatican later, guaranteed Kiram that he will study the Sabah crisis, including the alleged human rights violations by Malaysian authorities.

“I will read the papers (given by the Kirams on the issues) but eventually I will reflect and discern. I will also promise to seek the advice of people who are more learned and who know better ways of governance…I believe there are agencies in Rome that can be of service in this regard,” Palma said.

In particular, Palma said that he will present the matter to the International Eucharistic Congress and the German bishops on Pentecostalism.

“These two (activities) are the opportunities to bring the concerns of our country and the sisters and brothers down South (Mindanao),” he stressed.

Kiram, accompanied by Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption president Dante Jimenez and Dr Abdurahman Amin, president, Gausbaug Coalition for Peace and Humanitarian Resolution of Sabah, met with Palma to express his concern over the safety and security of Muslim Filipinos in Sabah.

Palma also said that he will raise the matter with the second highest decision-making body of the church body, the Permanent Council. “I also intend to present this to the Permanent Council for discernment and we will see whether certain actions could be done but at the moment the agenda for the meeting depends on the agreement of the members,” the prelate said.

“I’m hopeful that something wonderful both from perspective of the Christians and the Muslims would happen at the same time,” he added.

In particular, Palma said that they are primarily concerned over the escalating violence and alleged human rights violations taking place in Sabah.

“This is about sisters and brothers, humanity and, of course, embracing different religions that, I think, are bonded by search for peace, harmony, the longing to live in love and enjoy the bounty of the Earth without fear of attack,” the CBCP chief said. Jimenez said that they are hopeful that Palma’s trip to Vatican would be successful in bringing the Sabah crisis to the notice of the church leaders, including newly elected Pope Francis.

Also present during the 30-minute meeting were Sulu Princess Dayang Dayang Jacel Kiram, sultanate spokesman Abraham Idjirani and Pastor Boy Saycon, Council on Philippine Affairs leader and sultanate consultant,.

Jacel Kiram said that they are hoping that President Benigno Aquino would follow the example of the CBCP in addressing the crisis.

“We are not losing hope. We are always hoping for the best that when he (Aquino) wakes up tomorrow, he will realise what he has to do and what are his responsibilities as the president of the country. We should all pray for the president,” the Sulu princess said.The meeting, which took place at CBCP’s main office in Intramuros, Manila, was brokered by Jimenez.

Idjirani said that the sultanate decided to talk with the bishops because they believe in their influence.

“This Sabah issue concerns geopolitics. We need the support of the Vatican here,” he said.

Idjirani said that the sultanate will try to convince the Catholic leaders in the country to make representations in order that their move to reclaim Sabah would reach the Vatican.

“So hopefully the president of the CBCP will invite the attention of the Vatican to also do something about it because the Vatican advocates peace, prosperity and respect for human rights. Especially now that we have a new Pope,” he added.

Idjirani expressed the belief that the Vatican would most likely take an interest in Sabah because 25% of its residents are Christians.“We want to prove to them that the intention of the Sultan is not only for the Muslims. This is not only exclusive to the Muslims but also inclusive of our Christian brothers and sisters, including the indigenous peoples,” he said.

According to him, the sultan wants to assure the CBCP and the Holy See that in case Sabah is returned to the sultanate of Sulu, all religions will be respected according to the teachings of Islam.

In convincing the bishops of their claim, Idjirani said the sultanate has prepared several documents to back their cause.

He said that the documents include a “grant of letters of administration” in the court of North Borneo dated 1939, which recognised the authority of the sultanate of Sulu and North Borneo over Sabah.

Also presented was a 1999 letter to the editor of Zamboanga Times, which stated that the 1939 judgment of the High Court of Borneo had confirmed the propriety rights over Sabah by the descendants of Sulu Sultan Punjungan Kiram.

Another letter addressed to Sulu Datu Punjungan Kiram from the British Legation in Manila dated October 18, 1950 confirms the legation’s preparedness to pay the sultanate the sum of 1,301.79 pesos in cession money was also presented by the sultanate to the CBCP.