Claim to North Borneo (Sabah) is the claim of the entire Republic - Senator Jovito Salonga

On 25 March 1963,  many months before the creation of the Malaysia Federation, Senator Lorenzo Sumulong delivered a Privilege Speech on Philippines' North Borneo (Sabah) Claim in the Philippine Senate. 

In his privilege speech, Senator Sumulong berated the Republic's Sabah claim and tried vigorously to invalidate the Philippine Sabah claim by siding with the British and by praising Tunku Abdul Rahman's vision for the planned Malaysia Federation that would deprive the Philippines of its sovereignty rights over North Borneo (Sabah).

In his speech, Senator Sumulong insisted that Sabah should be handed to Kuala Lumpur. (Senator Sumulong is the grand uncle of President Benigno Aquino III through his mother, President Cory Aquino, a niece of Senator Sumulong.)

Senator Salonga

Five days later or on 30 March 1963, Senator Jovito Salonga delivered one of the best elocutions that this Republic has ever known with his magistral defence of the interest of the Republic which will (and should) continue to haunt the Republic especially against the backdrop of what is happening to the Republic's territorial claims and the inaction of this Government concerning North Borneo (Sabah).

In his stinging point-by-point rebuke of Senator Lorenzo Sumulong's virtually treacherous stand, Senator Jovito Salonga concluded his speech by sounding an ominous clarion call and called Senator Sumulong to task. He reminded Senator Sumulong and the Philippine Senate the following: 

"It is only now that Britain and Malaya have become increasingly appreciative of our stand and their willingness not to prejudice our claim despite Malaysia is certainly a great credit to the [Macapagal] Administration."

He warned Senator Sumulong with these words which bear repeating until we obtain Sabah back: 

"If between now and August 31,1963, the scheduled date of birth of the Malaysia Federation, these countries should stiffen in their attitude towards our claim, I must state in all candor that for all my respect for him and even assuming the nobility of his motives, the good Senator cannot fully escape the burden of responsibility."

The following words of Senator Salonga remain valid to this day and must be the guiding tenet of the Republic in its pursuit of its claim to North Borneo (Sabah).

"I believe that on such a fundamental question as this, it may be well for us to remember that political considerations, bitternessand endless quibbling should stop at the water's edge and that the claim to North Borneo is not the claim of the President, nor of the Liberal Party, nor of his Administration, but a claim of the entire Republic, based on respect for the rule of law, the sanctity of contractual obligations, the sacredness of facts and the relentless logic of our situation in this part of the world."

NOTA BENE:

31 August 1963 came to pass... On that day, Britain granted North Borneo (Sabah) its independence. 
Two weeks later or on 16 September, Malaysia Federation was created with North Borneo (Sabah). Thanks to the 'collaborative' spirit of Senator Sumulong who showed his subservience to the British and who served Malaya Peninsula's interests with great vigour, North Borneo (Sabah) fell in the hands of Kuala Lumpur.

And today or 50 years later, the tradition of the family of Senator Aquino of serving the interest of other countries against that of the Republic of the Philippines continues with outstanding consistency.

~~ By Defenders of the Philippine Sabah and Spratly Claims

26 March 2013

Link to the entirety of Senator Salonga's POINT-BY-POINT REPLY TO SENATOR SUMULONG'S PRIVILEGE SPEECH ON THE PHILIPPINE NORTH BORNEO (SABAH) CLAIM: http://fr.scribd.com/doc/128365977/A-Point-by-Point-Reply-to-Senator-Sumulong-s-Speech-on-the-Philippines-North-Borneo-Sabah-Claim

Link to the Senator Sumulong's privilege speech seeking the surrender of Sabah to Kuala Lumpur: http://jovitosalongajournals.blogspot.be/2012/02/privilege-speech-of-senator-lorenzo.html