MANILA, Philippines - Former National Security Adviser (NSA) and Defense secretary Norberto Gonzales has denied allegations that he was one of the instigators of Sulu Sultan Jamalul Kiram III.
"If the government is suspicious about me, I am now telling them that I know nothing on what happened in Sabah,†Gonzales said during his visit to the Sultan's residence in Maharlika Village in Taguig City on Sunday night.
“I am here because in conscience I cannot ignore and turn my back on him (Sultan Kiram III) and for what he is fighting for being brothers," Gonzales added.
Gonzales along with Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) chairman Nur Misuari, President Aquino’s uncle Jose “Peping†Cojuangco and his wife, United Opposition Alliance (UNA) senatorial candidate Margarita “Tingting†Cojuangco are being suspected of instigating Kiram's decision to send his army to Lahad Datu last February 11 to insist their claim over Sabah.
“If being a friend is to be a collaborator, yes I am,†Gonzales said, adding that he and the Sulu Sultan treat each other as real brothers. He said that his relationship with Kiram started during his activism days against the Marcos regime.
Misuari and Tingting Cojuanco have also denied any links to Kiram's decision to send his men to Lahad Datu.
He said that he was surprised when he learned about the incident in Sabah. He said he initially decided not to visit Kiram because it might spawn negative interpretations.
He said he was compelled to visit Kiram when he saw the sultan on television.
“If we have plans (to physically reclaim Sabah). We have done it when I was still defense secretary where I can provide him substantial support. I am now asking the entire Filipino people to accord the Sultan with high respect that the Royal Sultanate fully deserves,†Gonzales said.
Gonzales said that during the time of former President Arroyo, he worked with Kiram to relive the dormant claim of the country over Sabah by the issue with visiting Malaysian officials.
All these efforts were not pursued by the present administration, he said.
"We relived our Sabah claim through talks and dialogues with senior Malaysian officials [who visited the country] before, but I cannot tell you [the details of the discussions] because these are matters of the state,†Gonzales.
He said the Sultanate has the rightful claim over Sabah, but said the Malaysians being the occupants of the island state should also not be faulted to its action.