Govt open to talks with Kiram successor — Palace

From GMA News (Oct 27): Govt open to talks with Kiram successor — Palace

Malacañang on Sunday indicated it is open to talks with the successor of the late Sulu Sultan Jamalul Kiram III, saying its approach to peace in Mindanao is based on institutions and not personalities.

Presidential Communications Operations Office head Herminio Coloma Jr., in an interview on government-run dzRB, said: “Ang posisyon ng pamahalaan, walang pinepersonal diyan. Wala naman sinisino sapagka’t institutional ang approach natin diyan. At pagpili ng kanilang pinuno ay sarili nilang pasya yan at hindi pinaghimasukan ng ating pamahalaan."

Datu Esmail Dalus Strattan Kiram, 73, had been selected as the new sultan of the Sultanate of Sulu and North Borneo. He is the younger brother of Jamalul Kiram, who died last week.

A report in the Manila Bulletin said Datu Esmail Dalus Strattan Kiram gained the post under the law and order of succession in the sultanate.

It also quoted Sulu sultanate spokesman Abraham Idjirani as saying the new leader will be officially known as Sultan Esmail Kiram II.

The report also quoted Kiram II as saying he will pursue the Sabah claim through peaceful means.

Before his death, the elder Kiram had commanded his followers to continue efforts to “repossess” Sabah. His followers had engaged Malaysian forces in a standoff and later in clashes in Sabah earlier this year.

“Institutional at hindi personal ang approach ng ating pamahalaan (Our approach to dealing with them is institutional and not personal),” Coloma said.

http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/332739/news/nation/govt-open-to-talks-with-kiram-successor-palace