WEST PHILIPPINE SEA TEMPLATE | Diplomacy, dialogue to be used in Sabah claim - Aquino

From InterAksyon (Mar 17):  WEST PHILIPPINE SEA TEMPLATE | Diplomacy, dialogue to be used in Sabah claim - Aquino

President Benigno Aquino III affirmed the country's claim on Sabah, but stood firm his administration would pursue it through dialogue and diplomacy similar to its handling of the dispute over West Philippine Sea.

Speaking here at the Commencement Exercises of the Philippine Military Academy Padang Kalis Class 2013, Aquino took a swipe anew at individuals whom he said were behind the group of armed Sulu natives who occupied Sabah which triggered the fighting with Malaysian forces.

"Alam naman po natin na ang bawat aksyon ay may katumbas na reaksyon at di maaring daanin sa kalburo, mga problemang manganganak din ng problema kung ipipilit din lang ang dahas. Ang kailangan, masinsin at tapat na pagsusuri at usapan upang mahinog ang tamang solusyon," Aquino said.

"Di ba't mas produktibo kung ang paninindigan ay dadaanin sa matinong usapan at kung ito'y isusunod sa batas at sa malinaw na patakaran," he added.

Citing the country's dispute with China over claims on Bajo de Masinloc in the West Philippine Sea, the President said it was being pursued on a "rules-based approach" and peaceful means.

"Kung dadaanin ito sa pagkamaton at pangangahas, lolobo lang ang problema at malamang ay mapamana lang ito sa susunod na salinlahi," he said.

Aquino said the Sabah issue was complex and both governments of the Philippines and Malaysia would not easily let go of each claims on the oil-rich territory.

"Kayo nga po ang lumagay sa lugar ko. Lehitimo man o hindi ang hinaing ng mga nagtungo doon, paano ito titimbangin sa harap ng buhay at kabuhayan na malalagay sa peligro kung magsimula ang hidwaan," he said.

He said these forced were thinking only of their self-interest and not the welfare of some 800,000 Filipinos in Sabah, who would suffer the backlash of the fighting and Malaysia's possible retaliation against the Filipinos.

Faced with challenges as they serve in their respective units, Aquino told the PMA graduates to always decide based on reason and calm.

"Ang hinahon at katwiran ay hindi katumbas ng kaduwagan, bagkus ito ang sukat ng tunay na tapang at paninindigan, dahil sa ganitong paraan, naisasaalang-alang ang kapakanan hindi lamang ng mga nasa kasalukuyan kundi ng mga darating pa sa kinabukasan, iyan mismo ang sangandaang haharapin ninyo bilang mga kawal," Aquino said.

This year's batch has a total of 124 graduates, including 19 female. Of the graduates, 67 will be deployed in the Army, 24 in Air Force, and 33 in Navy.

The top 10 graduates were: Jestony Aman Lanaja, Maryam Dinamling Balais, Proten Atchico Bonacua, Jesse Nestor Berces Saludo, Joselyn Dimapilis Advincula, Leode John Ruiz Tulang, Mark Ferdinand Villamin, Vanessa Pascual Factor, Jhed Tabangcura Dumocloy, and Maila Agrabio Maniscan.

All gradutes will be commissioned as Second Lieutenant.

http://www.interaksyon.com/article/57297/west-philippine-sea-template--diplomacy-dialogue-to-be-used-in-sabah-claim---aquino