Sabah: Philippines Unclaimed Territory

                                                                   (Source: http://enton-1malaysia.blogspot.com/)

     With the ongoing dispute between the Philippines and China over the Spratly Island,  let us also look into another of our disputed territory - Sabah in North Borneo.  This territory, now claimed by the Federation of Malaysia, is claimed by the Philippine government for several reasons noting its historical background in order: 
     First, long before the Spaniards arrived in the Philippines, there was a rebellion in the Sultanate of Brunei.  The sultan of Sulu who was a cousin of the Bruneian sultan suppressed the said rebellion by using his Tausug warriors.  The sultan of Brunei in gratitude for said act ceded Sabah to the Sultan of Sulu.
     Second, through the Overbeck/Dent lease of 2,000 Malay dollars with the Sultan of Sulu, the Sabah territory was eventually transferred to the British North Borneo company.
     Third, when the Philippines became on July 4, 1946, the British crown shortly therefore annexed British North Borneo (Sabah) as part of the British crown territories.
     Fourth, President Diosdado Macapagal negotiated with the British government for the return of our Sabah territory.
     Fifth, while negotiations with the Philippine government was on going, the British government created the State of Malaysia and conveniently included Sabah as part of the territory of Malaysia.
    Sixth, the Philippines, Malaysia, and Indonesia signed the Manila accord to settle the dispute via mediation, arbitration, world court, etc.
     The failure and insincerity of the Malaysians to abide by the Manila agreement posed to President Ferdinand Marcos on how to recover our Sabah territory.  This prompted him to form a saboteur team of Tausugs which were trained on Corregidor for infiltration into Sabah but instead Marcos betrayed the saboteurs in an event known as Jabidah massacre.  The consequence of this action will be discussed in another article.

Reference: Rene Espina. Never on a Sunday. Manila Bulletin (Oct. 5, 2008).