Tit for tat

By Erick San Juan

DESPITE the death of Filipinos and Malaysians in Sabah, the Sultanate of Sulu refused to accept the announcements of both the Philippine and Malaysian governments that the matter was over. “This issue is far from over. Sabah is ours,” said the sultanate’s spokesman, Abraham Idjarani… (Manila Standard Today, 3-1-2013)

The Sabah issue has gone too far as precious lives were taken, an incident that could have been avoided if only the present administration has listened to my warning.

Taken from my piece, Choosing Which Side of History (April 25, 2012): One perennial problem that has come to our attention as an observer of events unfolding in our country is the issue in Mindanao, particularly our relationship with Malaysia. The government should sit down with Kuala Lumpur and talk not only about the GRP and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) peace agreement but also the issue of the heirs of Kiram. This age old problem has created a rift between the Philippines and Malaysia and must be addressed as soon as possible.

Methinks that the underlying event that should have been prioritized before or parallel to the Bangsamoro peace framework agreement that was signed in October 2012 was the Sabah issue. That was the reason why I wrote the article in April last year. I am not an expert but as I observed the confluence of events, the urgency to resolve the Sabah issue was much more important.

And now, the matter went out of hand and it blew right in front of us and the nagging question (the title of Ellen Tordesillas’s article): “Who is Aquino’s adviser on the Sabah issue?”

This standoff came about because the heirs of the Sultan of Sulu decided to do it their way after Malacañang snubbed Kiram’s request for a meeting.

Aquino revealed this in his statement: “Let me say to Sultan Jamalul Kiram III: I have just been made aware that a letter to me, from you, was sent through Opapp (Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process) in the very first weeks of my term, when we were organizing the government. Unfortunately, this letter was lost in the bureaucratic maze. Let me make it clear that there was no intention to ignore your letter. (Ibid)

Kiram’s letter of request for a meeting with the President was important and urgent, so why the hell did it get lost in the “bureaucratic maze” at the Opapp?

The same is true with the urgency of my advice to Malacanang last April 2012 that the Sabah issue must be resolved with extreme diplomacy because back then I have been getting feedbacks that there were already “personalities” meddling on the matter that has made things more complicated. Could it be that such complication might have caused the recent conflict?  Just asking.

Sometimes it does’nt pay to ignore combatants like the MILF and the MNLF. It’s a tit for tat. “Great minds” among the advisers of the sultanate believe that if the MILF has the capacity for violence and will be granted an Islamic state, they can do better. Now that the Sultanate and other stakeholders felt that they are taken for granted, it’s “show time” to occupy what they believe is their property. The mere fact that the Bangsamoro peace framework agreement is already an ongoing process, the speculations of some observers of a sabotage through the Sabah incident is possible. There are other speculations that can be half-truth but the truth of the matter is, bloodshed could have been avoided if PNoy and the people in his loop took heed of  my unsolicited advice.

The PNoy administration has been in the Palace for quite some time now and lame excuses are not acceptable especially when it comes to diplomacy in dealing with other government.

Another lesson learned? But for how long will the Filipinos’ patience and tolerance will last as the government solve issues perceive as based on trial and error?  Let us pray harder and help the present leadership before it will lead us to what the rankopedia has predicted would happen. Hidden hands are moving quickly which could destroy both the Razak and Aquino administration if the situation will not be handled properly. God forbid!