NBI subpoenas Kirams

MANILA, Philippines - Agents of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on Tuesday served subpoenas on members of the Kiram family and on the spokesman of the Sultanate of Sulu and North Borneo.

NBI agents arrived at the Kiram  residence inside the Maharlika Village at about 3:10 p.m. and served the subpoenas on Sultanate spokesman Abraham Idjirani and Jacel Kiram, daughter of Sulu sultan Jamalul Kiram III.

The first subpoenas were received by  Fatima Cecilia Kiram on behalf of her daughter Jacel and Idjirani.

At about 15 minutes later, two NBI agents arrived at the Kiram residence and served the subpoenas on Fatima and her husband Jamalul  and the latter's brother sultan Bantilan Esmail Kiram.

Idjirani and Jacel were ordered to appear before the NBI’s Technical and Intelligence Division on March 14 at 2 p.m.

Jamalul,  his wife,  and his brother meanwhile were ordered by the NBI to appear before its Anti-Organized Crime Division on March 15 at 10 a.m.

The subpoenas, signed by NBI director Nonnatus Rojas, ordered the Kirams and Idjirani to appear and “to shed light on the investigation being conducted regarding the Sabah incident.”

Earlier, the NBI also summoned for questioning political strategist Pastor “Boy” Saycon, former national security adviser Norberto Gonzales and broadcaster Waldy Carbonell who had earlier expressed their support for the Kirams.

Fatima, shortly after receiving her subpoena,  said the family was expecting to be summoned by the NBI.

“Mayroong nagsabi sa amin na huwag kaming mabibigla,“ she said.

Fatima said the family will tell the truth about the Sabah incident when they go and face the NBI. She also denied that the Sabah incursion by the Sultanate’s royal army was hatched by a conspiracy.

“I never expected na magsusubpoena sila...Idjirani at  Princess Jacel.  Ano ang collaboration doon? Anong conspiracy doon?” she said.

“Wala kaming kasalalann na ginawa. Nagsasabi lang kami ng katotohanan.  Advantage for us to let them know what is the Sultanate of Sulu, what is the Sabah issue. Siguro dapat malaman ito ng ating government officials,  not only our people in the south. Hindi nila alam. Para ma-enlighten sila. Siguro lahat ng sectors ng government natin,”she said.

“To shed light on the Sabah incident, baka kasama dito iyong tuturuan natin sila on the Sabah issue,” she added.

Fatima said she would show a powerpoint presentation to the NBI agents. She also called for a revision of all the history school textbooks as these do not discuss the Sabah issue comprehensively.

“Bibigyan ko sila ng powerpoint presentation,” she said.

“Palitan na natin ang mga libro ng ating elementary at high school. Para malaman naman nila ang itinatago ng history for a long long time. Ngayon lang nabulgar sa sambayanang Pilipinas,” she added.

"Wala pa ang Pilipinas at ang Malaysia, mayron nang Sultanate of Sulu.  Kailngan siguro ma-alarm ang lahat ng Filipino na ang issue na ito ng Sabah ay binuksan niya (sultan) iyong sa Mindanao conflict, katotohanan ng conspiracy ng iba't-ibang bansa laban sa claim natin sa Sabah," she said.