Mainstream media and Government must exercise professionalism with regard to Sultanate of Sulu

In light of the recent report brought to our attention by a member of the Defenders of the Philippinne Sabah and Spratly Claims community concerning a 'blatant example' of what can be qualified as media's jab or taunt against the Sultanate of Sulu, posted under a GMA Network banner, "A real sultan from Brunei in PHL for state visit" http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/photo/35952/a-real-sultan-from-brunei-in-phl-for-state-visit, we are reposting hereunder a reminder:

PLEASE SHARE -- THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT: ON SABAH PROPRIETARY RIGHTS (DIFFERENT FROM SOVEREIGNTY RIGHTS WHICH BELONG TO THE REPUBLIC): THE SULTANATE OF SULU HAS NINE LEGALLY RECOGNISED ROYAL HEIRS...  

Their intra-family bickering must not affect whatever the Republic's position is on its claim to Sabah which, by law -- by virtue of Republic Act 5446, is Philippine territory. 
The nine royal heirs must be allowed to decide among themselves who their sultan is... 

We, the non-sultanate member citizens of the Republic, must leave them alone to sort out their own family problem.

The judicious thing to do is for everyone, specially members of Government to abstain from putting more fat in the already confusing fire or from making a dismissive remark as, "We don't even know who the legitimate sultan is!"  

The judicious thing to do is for everyone, specially members of Government to abstain from putting more fat in the already confusing fire or from making a dismissive remark as, "We don't even know who the legitimate sultan is!"  

Government must step back and avoid such confusing remarks because the principle of Government support for their struggle must be for the Sultanate of Sulu as a body and for the people of Sulu and not for an individual. 

Unless government and the public accept the principle that there are nine legal heirs representing the Sultanate of Sulu, Government itself risks defeating the Republic's own legal cause in the future. 

Government must not confuse the people of this country and instead must use the Philippine law to Government's advantage in trying to resolve the Sabah crisis which has now claimed several dozens dead in the hands of a foreign government's maniacal troops. 

~~ Admins, Philippine Sabah Claim Forum08 March 2013 

IN PICTURE: Sultan of Sulu, Sultan Jamalul Kiram II (picture taken around 1936).