Princess Kiram doubts Roxas’ sincerity

Interior Secretary Manuel “Mar” Roxas II. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines – Princess Jacel Kiram on Thursday questioned Interior Secretary Manuel “Mar” Roxas II’s sincerity in his talks with her uncle, Sultan Bantilan Esmail Kiram II.

Asked about the possibility of “disengagement,” which Roxas said was the focus of their meeting on Monday, the daughter of Sulu Sultan Jamalul Kiram III said that it was important to find out what the Department of Interior and Local Government chief’s intention was.

She said that the “disengagement” issue came from Roxas himself.

“Wala talaga silang pakialam [sa Sabah claim]…(They have no concern for the Sabah claim). He put words in the mouth of my uncle,” Kiram told Radyo INQUIRER 990AM in an interview.

“He initiated that meeting [pero] hindi ko nakita ang mabuting intensyon. Umaasa nga ako na magandang gesture ito… pero papogi points lang po siguro ito sa kanya (He initiated that meeting but I didn’t see his good intention. I was expecting a nice gesture but it’s all a put-on to make a good impression),” she said.

She said Roxas may be reaching out to the Kiram clan in order to improve the ranking of Team PNoy candidates, many of whom Kiram believed were not doing very well despite their lead in the latest surveys.

“Alam naman natin na bumubulusok pababa ang mga ikinakampanya ni Secretary Roxas, pati ang line-up nila for senators ay nadadamay (We all know that the candidates who Secretary Roxas campaigns for are going down in the surveys, their popularity plunges, including those gunning for the Senate),” she said.

Kiram said they would continue their lines open for discussion with President Benigno Aquino III but maintained that they were doubtful of Roxas’ sincerity in the recent talks.

“Secretary Roxas, gawin mo na lang ng maayos ang trabaho mo sa DILG, huwag ka nang umarte ng di katanggap-tanggap (Secretary Roxas, just do your job at DILG well, don’t do something not acceptable [to us]),” she urged the DILG secretary. With a report from Karen Boncocan, INQUIRER.net