PHL embassy visits 8 alleged Kiram followers in Sabah

Philippine Embassy officials were able to visit the eight alleged followers of Filipino Sultan Jamalul Kiram III who were charged by Malaysia with terrorism-related offenses for their so-called involvement in efforts by the sultanate to assert by force their historical claim over the resource-rich territory.

They were the first to face charges since close to 200 of Kiram's men sailed to the coastal town of Lahad Datu from Tawi-Tawi on Feb. 12 to press ownership over Sabah, which subsequently led to deadly clashes with Malaysian security forces. At least 100 more Filipinos are in Malaysian custody, according to reports.

Philippine Ambassador Eduardo Malaya, in a statement on Sunday, did not say if the eight were indeed Filipinos but noted it is "a standing policy for the Philippine government to provide appropriate consular assistance to nationals in distress, whether or not we agree with their acts or advocacies."

Malaya identified the eight individuals facing criminal charges as: Atik Hussin Bin Abu Bakar, Basad H. Manuel, Habil Bin Suhaili, Holland Bin Kalbi, Thimhar Hadil Suhaili, Lin Bin Mad Salleh, Kadir Bin Uyung and Lating Bin Tiong.

Malaysia launched armed offensives against the Filipinos to quell what they call an intrusion over Malaysian territory. The attacks have killed dozens of Kiram's men and at least eight Malaysian security forces.

The Malaysian assault forced most of Kiram's men, led by his younger brother Agbimuddin, to flee Lahad Datu to neighboring towns while a few have been reported to have slipped back to Tawi-Tawi.

Kiram said he sent his followers to Sabah to reclaim their homeland as efforts to get it back from Malaysia has been relegated to the backburner by the Philippine government.

He said his forebears leased Sabah to a British company in the 1870's but was illegally annexed by Great Britain which then handed over the territory to Malaysia when it gained independence from the British Crown in 1963.

The embassy team, led by First Secretary and Consul Antonina Mendoza-Oblena and Director Renato Villa, talked to the eight individuals at the prison facility in Tawau on March 28 and inquired about their conditions.

They also asked the eight of their places of origin and respective families, the embassy said.

"We would like to ensure that their rights as accused are respected and that they have legal representation when court sessions resume on April 12, as promised by Malaysian authorities," Malaya said.

The consular jail visit was conducted after arrangements were made with the Malaysian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Attorney General's Chambers and Tawau prison officials.

Malaya declined to provide further details on the visit due to the sensitivity of the cases.

On the other hand, the embassy said it may find difficulty in extending consular assistance to Raja Muda Agbimuddin in light of revelations that he had acquired Malaysian citizenship.

In an interview with reporters on March 23, Malaysian Defense Minister Datuk Seri Zahid Hamidi earlier confirmed that Agbimuddin is a Malaysian citizen who worked as a civil servant in Sabah.

He said that Agbimuddin was an assistant district officer in Kudat under the administration of former Sabah Chief Minister Tun Datu Mustapha Datu Harun. (PNA)