Kiram's daughter, Robin Padilla's wife visit Tawi-Tawi

ZAMBOANGA CITY , Philippines  - Members of the Sulu Sultanate welcomed Princess Jacel Kiram and TV personality Mariel Rodriguez who arrived in Simunul, Tawi-Tawi to hold a humanitarian mission.

The police said Jacel, daughter of Sultan Jamalul Kiram III, and Rodriguez, wife of movie actor Robin Padilla, a Muslim convert, arrived in Bongao Thursday morning on board a private plane that flew them in straight from Manila.

The two later boarded a speedboat towards Simunul where Jacel met her aunt,  Princess Hadja Nurkisa Kiram, wife of Raja Muda Agbimuddin Kiram, leader of the sultanate royal army that is engaged in a standoff  with Malaysian forces.

Jacel was emotional upon seeing her aunt,  whom  she had not met since the crisis erupted.

“Sana patuloy na ipaglaban ang Sabah claim at sana i-reciprocate din ng Malaysia ang panawagan ng UN (United Nation),” Jacel told newsmen in Simunul upon learning of the statement of UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon, appealing on parties to seek a peaceful resolution to the crisis.

Jacel said their mission to Simunul was to check on the safety of the sultanate's family and the people affected by the conflict.

Jacel and Rodriguez left Simunul for Bongao and  are expected to fly back to Manila.