The Office of the President of the Philippines has urged the heir to the Sulu Sultanate who has invaded Malaysia’s sovereignty and is still in Sabah to back off and return to the Philippines.

According to the Secretary of Strategic Communications Ricky Carandang, the supporters of the Sulu Sultan must return to the Philippines should they want to continue any dialogues regarding the sovereignty over Sabah.

In an interview with a Manila-based radio station, Carandang said Manila is still focusing its attention over Sultanate of Sulu’s claims over Sabah.

“We’ve never said we never cared over their claims of Sabah. We know that the Kiram family has intentions to claim Sabah and it’s not like we didn’t care about this matter,” he was quoted in an article by Inquirer.net.

According to Carandang, President Benigno Aquino III is still examining the issue but reiterated that there is not a need for the supporters of Sulu Sultan to still be in Sabah.

“If they want to negotiate over the Sabah issue, it is still in talks. We don’t see any reasons why they still have to be in Sabah.

“(What we’re trying to say here) the studies over the claim were done here (the Philippines) and we need to find the right time and method to resolve this issue,” he said.

Carandang also said that Aquino wanted the issue to be resolved in a peaceful manner.

He once again pointed out over Manila’s decision that sending armed forces to claim Sabah is wrong.

The Philippines raised the issue of Sabah’s sovereignty in 1962 when the government at that time opposed to the idea of the formation of Malaysia. It was on the basis that the territory previously known as North Borneo belonged to the Sulu Sultanate.

That claim was not recognised by Malaysia as Sabah is part of Malaysia’s territory, valid in terms of facts and law.