President Aquino’s comparison of the Jabidah massacre with Sultan Jamalul Kiram III’s assertion of the Sulu Sultanate’s right over Sabah is simply without basis. The massacre was perpetrated by a dictator while the sultan is standing on a solid historical right and on the greater interest of his people. To ascribe selfish interest to the sultan is grossly unfair. The comparison is sheer banality. The President’s appreciation of the facts is skewed, favoring the interest of the Malaysian government. Mr. Aquino has not taken into account the unconscionable, inequitable payment being made by the Malaysian government to the sultan. The president has closed his eyes to the reality: A vast real estate earning $81 billion is being rented for the measly amount of P77,000. Where is the mental quotient of the President?
The people are convinced that the President is really espousing Malaysia’s interest. There has been no favorable statement made by the President about the sultan, even if only to assuage the shattered feelings of his people. This is very unfortunate.
—V. EMMANUEL C. FONTANILLA,
vecfnew@yahoo.com