PHL probe on Sabah crisis to extend to 'paid Kiram man'

The government is set to investigate whether the man who earlier confessed to Malaysian authorities as being paid to sail to Sabah and assert the Sulu sultanate's claim over the disputed region really belonged to the sultan's "royal forces."

 

On Monday, Justice Secretary Leile de Lima said the joint team from the National Bureau of Investigation and the Philippine National Police's Criminal Investigation and Detection Group would expand its ongoing probe to include Holan Kalbi's testimony before a Malaysian court last week.

 

In his account, Kalbi claimed he received money from someone in exchange for joining Sulu Sultan Jamalul Kiram III's "royal forces" in pressing for their historical claim over Sabah. Malaysian state news agency, Bernama, even quoted Kalbi as saying it was "foolish" for him to agree in joining the trip.

 

"Kasama iyan [admission of being paid] sa imbestigasyon ngayon," De Lima told reporters in Manila.

 

Philippine authorities are set to check Kalbi's identity, in light of the fact that Kiram had already disowned Kalbi and the seven other arrested men who were charged for launching terroristic acts and waging war against Malaysian King Abdul Halim.

 

Abraham Idjirani, spokesman for the sultanate, earlier said the accused men were "fall guys" and that the "Kalbi" who faced the Malaysian court was not the real 'Holan Kalbi," saying the latter was among those killed in the March 1 armed clash between Kiram's men and Malaysian forces in Lahad Datu, Sabah.

 

De Lima said the investigators deployed to the different parts of Luzon and Metro Manila have already come up with initial findings, but said these were all confidential.

 

"They have been working on this case quietly. Mayroon nang mga team na nasa probinsya. Mayroon mga team dito. Different angles are being looked into including the financing angle," she said.

 

De Lima said the Philippine government would not divulge details of the probe until a case had already been prepared against personalities who could be held liable for the Sabah incursion. 

 

"Ang tendency is to produce half-baked results. Ayaw namin ng ganon. Although these are always a priority because all eyes are on it. The people are waiting for the results," she said.

 

De Lima last week submitted to Office of the President the result of her month-long legal study on the territorial claim of Kiram over Sabah. 

 

The incursion had already claimed the lives of more than 50 individuals, mostly from Kiram's camp since firefight broke out earlier this month. — Mark Merueñas/RSJ, GMA News