KUCHING: Philippines President Benigno Aquino III is not changing his position to call on Filipinos holed up in Sabah to surrender, reported RPPLER.COM.
There is no room for any negotiation if they continue to bear arms, he said.
Amid criticism of how the government handled the situation, Aquino said the Sabah situation is a result of a conspiracy.
“We are aware that people conspired for this situation to happen. We know some of them. The others are still hidden.”
Citing intelligence reports, Aquino said they have already identified “persons of interest” involved in the plot to move against Sabah. Cases are already being prepared against them, he added, without naming names.
Aquino said Sultan Jamalul Kiram III alone could not have ordered the move.
Aquino said the government is aware that the situation could get worse, but that the other option is a peaceful end to the conflict.
Department of Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert Del Rosario is now on his way to Malaysia to work for a possible peaceful resolution to the situation, Aquino added.
Rappler.com’s mood navigator indicates 61 percent of its readers are annoyed by the news which Sultan said his followers are not leaving Sabah, while 48 percent are happy that the Palace sent ultimatum to Sultan to return to their country, 44 percent of the readers are saddened by the news of the Lahad Datu clash with many killed.