De Lima: Joint body formed to probe Sabah standoff

MANILA, Philippines - Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said Thursday that the government has formed a joint committee that would investigate the standoff between supporters of Sulu Sultan Jamalul Kiram III and Malaysian authorities in Sabah.

De Lima said that she and Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas had directed National Bureau of Investigation chief Caesar Rojas and Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group director Chief Superintendent Francisco Uyami to lead the creation of the fact-finding committee.

She said that the joint committee has been tasked to investigate and find out if the group of Sultan Kiram should be held criminally liable for the standoff in Sabah.

The justice secretary, meanwhile, said that the investigations will be called off and the possible filing of charges may not push through if Kiram's men would leave Sabah and return to the Philippines.

President Aquino had ordered an investigation on the possible violations committed by Kiram's group, including the sultan and his brother, Cron Prince Agbimuddin Kiram.

The President issued the order as he urged Kiram to order his brother and his supporters to peacefully withdraw from Lahad Datu and return to the Philippines.

Since Aquino issued the statement, Kiram and his brother had repeatedly announced that they will not leave Lahad Datu. The Kiram brothers, however, assured that their armed supporters will not start an armed confrontation with Malaysian authorities.

The government is concerned that the standoff between Kiram’s group and the Malaysian authorities may bring harm to the thousands of Filipinos working and living in Malaysia.

Malaysia is also helping the Philippine government reach a peace agreement with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.