Aquino warns those behind Sabah standoff incident

From the Philippine News Agency (Mar 4): Aquino warns those behind Sabah standoff incident

President Benigno Aquino III on Monday warned those behind the standoff in Lahad Datu, Sabah that they will be held accountable. "We are aware that there are those who conspired to bring us to this situation—a situation that has no immediate solutions. Some of their identities are clear to us, while others continue to skulk in the shadows," the President said in a statement aired over People's Television 4 and government radio station "Radyo ng Bayan."

"The family of Sultan Jamalul Kiram could not possibly have settled on this course of action alone.

We have also noticed how our critics have stuck to a single messaging line to exacerbate a situation that has already grown dire. They have made this issue worse, and they are doing this even as their actions place thousands of Filipinos in danger," he said.

"To the people who are behind this, even now, I tell you: you will not succeed. All those who have wronged our country will be held accountable," he stressed.

President Aquino stressed that there is a provision in the Constitution that prohibits the formation of private armed groups. "They (armed followers of Sulu Sultan Kiram) are, obviously, by any definition are armed group. They call themselves a particular claim. And meron daw yatang connivance allegedly by certain members of the past administration in the formation on this, which is a violation of the Constitution and various other laws of the land," he said.

The President said there is also a provision in the Revised Penal Code that cites inciting to war. "When you have an armed group that goes into an area administered by different nation, can that not be considered an act of war by some of our citizens? And the Revised Penal Code has specific law that penalizes people who incite others to war," he noted.

President Aquino said he already tasked the Department of Justice (DOJ) to investigate the matter. The President said what is important to him is the safety of the estimated 800,000 Filipinos who are in Sabah, especially those who will be affected by his decisions and actions. "As President, it is not just the lives of those in Rajah Muda Agbimuddin Kiram’s group, but also the welfare and the safety of the estimated 800,000 Filipinos in Sabah and Tawi-tawi, rest on my shoulders.

Each life is valuable, and we have no other priority but to ensure the safety of our countrymen, wherever they may be in the world," he said. "It is important to me the lives of my fellowmen, especially if they are affected by my decisions and actions," he noted.

The President said that the government is doing all it can for a peaceful resolution to the Sabah standoff. "We are doing all we can to prepare for all possible outcomes. I have tasked each agency of government that is connected to or responsible for the different aspects of what this incident may bring about to study and prepare for the implications," he said.

"My call to the family of Sultan Jamalul Kiram has not changed: it is not reasonable to ask for understanding, if your weapons are pointed at the faces of those you are speaking with," he stressed.
But, President Aquino said that "open and reasonable dialogue can only start once you are willing to exhibit calm and restraint, and approach the table with open minds."

"What is regrettable is that there were those who chose for this to happen, and, in so doing, chose to place many Filipinos in danger," he said. Even then, the President said, "we will not allow ourselves to be drained of the strength it will take to put an end to this incident in the soonest possible time. This will come from our capacity to look to the welfare of others, and not merely ourselves." "It is simple: we will be able to put an end to this trouble, if the people involved in it become reasonable, especially those who see themselves as true leaders," he said.

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