Aquino told Sultan Jamalul Kiram III to recall 180 of his followers, about 30 of whom were armed, from a fishing village on the island of Borneo where they have been facing off with Malaysian security forces for two weeks.
“If you choose not to cooperate, the full force of the laws of the state will be used to achieve justice for all who have been put in harm’s way,” Aquino said in a statement aired on national television.
This is a situation that cannot persist. If you are truly the leader of your people, you should be one with us in ordering your followers to return home peacefully
“This is a situation that cannot persist. If you are truly the leader of your people, you should be one with us in ordering your followers to return home peacefully.”
He warned Kiram that he had also ordered an investigation “into possible violations of laws by you, your followers, and collaborators engaged in this foolhardy act”.
Aquino cited a constitutional provision renouncing war as an instrument of policy and a law prohibiting citizens against inciting war, which is punishable by up to 12 years in prison.
Kiram’s followers made a boat trip from their homes on remote islands in the southern Philippines to occupy the Malaysian fishing village two weeks ago, after the sultan gave them a blessing to live there.