Party-list legislator seeks congressional probe into Sabah

SENATORIAL candidate Teddy Casiño on Wednesday called on the House of Representatives to investigate the Executive Department's mishandling of the country's claim over the resource-rich Sabah.

Casiño, the lone senatorial bet of the Makabayan Coalition, claimed it was President Benigno Aquino III's threat of filing charges against the supporters of Sulu Sultan Jamalulu Kiram III that resulted in the crisis and not the alleged conspiracy by his political foes.

In a televised address, Aquino appealed to Kiram's followers to return home to the Philippines peacefully as he threatened to press charges against the followers of the Sulu Sultanate involved in the standoff.

"Not only has President Benigno Aquino III's actions antagonized the Sultanate of Sulu, resulting in a crisis, he had also undermined the country's claim on Sabah," Casiño said.

In House Resolution 3042, Casiño said the House committee on foreign affairs should conduct a probe on the ongoing armed conflict in Sabah between Kiram's followers and Malaysian forces "and the propriety of the position taken by President Benigno Aquino III in supporting Malaysia and thereby undermining the Philippine claim on Sabah."

"With the antagonistic relations of the Executive and the Sultanate, Congress should immediately investigate the ongoing armed conflict in Sabah and push for a cessation of hostilities and the peaceful settlement of the Sultanate and the Philippines' claim on Sabah," the resolution stated.

Casiño said the Philippine government should revive its claim on Sabah, not only for the heirs of the Sultanate of Sulu but for the whole Filipino nation as well.

"Sabah is inhabited by some 800,000 Filipinos. It is rich in oil, gas and other natural resources. There are solid historical and legal grounds for reclaiming Sabah," he said.

Meanwhile, militant youth group Anakbayan criticized President Aquino's presence in provincial sorties of Liberal Party-led coalition Team PNoy amid the ongoing crisis in Sabah.

Vencer Crisostomo, Anakbayan national chairperson, said Aquino's continued participation in the campaign "smacks of callousness and insensitivity."

Aquino joined the Team PNoy campaign in Pampanga last week when the crisis in Sabah erupted. Pampanga is the home province of former President and now Pampanga Representative Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

This week, Aquino was in General Santos City and Davao City with the administration-backed senatorial candidates.

Crisostomo suggested that Aquino either resigns or takes a leave as President if he intends to work fulltime as campaign manager of the Team PNoy slate. 

"Last time we checked, the Filipino taxpayer is not paying him to campaign. Let us remind him that the people's money is paying for his salary. He should not waste it on self-serving activities," he said.  

Team PNoy campaign manager Senator Franklin Drilon earlier assured that President Aquino is on top of the situation in Sabah.

"He continues to govern, he's on top of the situation and he has a schedule that will be followed. The welfare of 800,000 Filipinos which are caught in this very delicate situation in Sabah will be more than prime interest," Drilon told reporters. (Kathrina Alvarez/Sunnex)