NOTE: SOME OF THE CONTENTS OF THIS DOCUMENT WERE CORROBORATED BY THE PEOPLE I TALKED TO INCLUDE; MUEDZUEL-LAIL "BUTCH" KIRAM, DR. CELIA KIRAM (SULTAN JAMALUL'S WIFE), SENIOR MNLF OFFICIAL (I'M NOT NAMING HIM SINCE MNLF IS NEUTRAL), ASSISTANT TO THE GOVERNOR OF SULU, A FRIEND WHO IS 100% TAUSUG FROM SULU AND WHO IS CLOSE TO THE KIRAM FAMILY. FOR A COMPLETE HISTORY, FEEL FREE TO CLICK ON THE WEB LINK BELOW. THE LINK IS COMPLETE WITH DOCUMENTS AND PICTURES OF DIGNITARIES LIKE SENATORS PIMENTEL, DRILLON AMONG OTHERS. SCROLL ALL THE WAY DOWN WHERE IT EXPLAINS WHY FUAD IS NOT A LEGITIMATE CLAIMANT AND MORE.
In 1974, Sultan Esmail Kiram I died in Jolo. By this time, blazing warfare between Moro and Filipino soldiers was raging in Sulu. In addition, the secret plan of the Philippines to invade North Borneo had ended in the Jabidah Massacre of 1968, and there was suspicion and uncertainty everywhere in the region. Because President Ferdinand Marcos had declared Martial Law I 1972, Crown Prince Datu Punjungan had already fled to North Borneo and dared not return to claim the Sultanate.
Thus, emissaries from President Marcos traveled to Jolo to identify and select a new Sultan. They asked Abraham Rasul, the husband of Santanina Rasul, who should be the next Sultan, in as much as they could not find Datu Punjungan. At the order of President Marcos, a selection committee was formed.
This group chose Muhammad Mahakutta Kiram as sultan in 1974. They chose him because he was the first so of the second wife; and since they were unable to find Datu Punjungan, Datu Mahakuttah became Sultan, though not in accordance to standard rules. It was well known that the Crown Prince was alive, thus no new Sultan should have been crowned. This intervention by Manila has had exactly the effect which the Government of the Republic of the Philippines sought, which was to divide and control the people of Sulu. To this day, the competing claims to being Sultan stem from the interference by Manila.
Sultan Muhammad Mahakuttah Kiram - 1974‐1980Thus, emissaries from President Marcos traveled to Jolo to identify and select a new Sultan. They asked Abraham Rasul, the husband of Santanina Rasul, who should be the next Sultan, in as much as they could not find Datu Punjungan. At the order of President Marcos, a selection committee was formed.
This group chose Muhammad Mahakutta Kiram as sultan in 1974. They chose him because he was the first so of the second wife; and since they were unable to find Datu Punjungan, Datu Mahakuttah became Sultan, though not in accordance to standard rules. It was well known that the Crown Prince was alive, thus no new Sultan should have been crowned. This intervention by Manila has had exactly the effect which the Government of the Republic of the Philippines sought, which was to divide and control the people of Sulu. To this day, the competing claims to being Sultan stem from the interference by Manila.
Sultan Mahakuttah was brought to Manila, where he was well financed by President Marcos, lived in the Aurelio Hotel in Mabini, and received a large allowance. He played a large role in recommending to President Marcos who could bring in barter trade goods, with approval by the Southern command officer in charge. While living in Manila, Sultan Mahakuttah fell prey to all vices. Finally, he married Mercy, a Christian woman in Pampanga.
In 1976, Sultan Mahakuttah began to lose favor with President Marcos because the “Magic Eight” commanders of the Moro National Liberation front had surrendered to Marcos. They began to get funding, not Sultan Mahakuttah. When martial law ended in 1980, Crown Prince Punjungan returned to North Borneo to Jolo. The Ruma Bechara, along with all the Datus and the leaders of the different municipalities of Jolo, gathered in Jolo to proclaim Datu Punjungan as the rightful Sultan.
At that time, they also proclaimed Datu Jamalul Kiram III as Rajah Mudah. Sultan Mahakuttah was present at the gathering in Jolo and willingly renounced the Sultancy in favor of his uncle, Sultan Punjungan. Sultan Punjungan reigned from 1980‐1983, and died a natural death in Zamboanga City. Buried in Maimbung, Sulu, the ancestral capital of the Royal Sultanate.
Before he died, he wrote a Will of Testament, that all rights of administrative over all his interests shares and participation in all the properties of the Sultanate of Sulu, including its proprietary rights and interests over Sabah, formerly known as British North Borneo, are conferred to his son Datu Esmail Dalus Kiram.
Sultan Punjungan Kiram - 1980‐1983
Upon Sultan Punjungan’s death, Crown Prince Datu Jamalul Kiram III was proclaimed Sultan by the council of Datus Simultaneously, Datu Esmail Kiram was proclaimed Rajah Muda, or Crown Prince.
Sultan Jamalul Kiram III - 1984‐2001
Even before becoming Crown Prince or Sultan, Jamalul Kiram III had taken up residence in Manila and married a Christian woman named Celia, as his second wife. Under the doctrine of “Astanah ha Lupah Sug,” which requires the Sultan to reside in Jolo, the people expected Sultan Jamalul Kiram III to move back to Jolo. However, he never did.
After leaving Jolo in the late 1970s, Sultan Jamalul Kiram III never re‐established a residence in Jolo. In fact, when his own son fro his first wife, Caroline Tulawie, died in Jolo, he returned briefly but stayed with his brother, Rajah Muda Datu Esmail Kiram.
Over a period of twenty years, Sultan Jamalul Kiram III returned to Jolo only once or twice per year for brief visits. During his visit to Jolo when his son died, the Ruma Bechara advised Sultan Jamalul Kiram III to step down in favor of Rajah Muda Datu Esmail Kiram. It was subsequently agreed that Sultan Jamalul kiram III could retain the title of Sultan, but that Rajah Muda Esmail Kiram would be Sultan in fact in Sulu and North Borneo.
It was agreed that if Sultan Jamalul Kiram III decided to return to Jolo, he would be reinstated as Sultan, a process familiar to the Sultanate because of events surrounding the Sultanate of Azim ud‐Din I or Sultan Aliuddin I, in the 1750s. This Sultan was kept in Manila by the Spanish for many years, and during his absence another man became Sultan. But when Alimuddin I was able to return to Jolo, he was reinstated as Sultan.
A written agreement concerning the stepping aside of Jamalul Kiram III was promised in the Jolo meeting. It has yet to be delivered.
Sultan Esmail Kiram II - 2001‐to Date
Esmail Kiram II was crowned in Jolo in 2001 after he was found to be in compliance with all the rules of succession. His younger brother, Agbimuddin, became Crown Prince.
In 2006, Fuad Kiram was proclaimed in Maharlika Village as Sultan of Sulu. Though a fine man, he does not meet the traditional requirements.
First, he was never proclaimed as Rajah Muda. When Fuad’s elder brother, Mahakuttah, became Sultan the person who was named Rajah Muda was Muedzul‐Lail K
Second, Fuad is not a resident of Sulu, but lives in Angono, Rizal.
Third, his mother is not of royal blood lines.
Fourth, the coronation of Mahakuttah was proclaimed not by the Ruma Bechara but by the government of Ferdinand Marcos.
Let the legitimate king ascends his throne to govern the bangsa moro kingdom!!!
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