Push Admin

Marcos Jr. admin yet to declare stance on Sabah claim, Palace says

Article (news)

Job Manahan, ABS-CBN News

<p>MANILA — President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. has yet to articulate his position on the country&#x27;s claim to Sabah, Malacañang said on Tuesday. </p><p>Press Secretary Trixie Cruz-Angeles issued the statement after being asked whether Marcos&#x27; stance on &quot;<a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/07/26/22/marcos-sona-signals-no-major-change-in-ph-foreign-policy-says-analyst">not giving up a square inch&quot; of the country&#x27;s territory</a> applies to Sabah, which is now a Malaysian state. </p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/08/29/20/malaysia-rejects-ph-claim-over-sabah-in-note-verbale">Malaysia rejects PH claim over Sabah in note verbale</a></li></ul><p>&quot;The President’s articulation of his statement about not giving up a square inch of territory will have to be reduced into writing and into specifics after which we will announce these to you if they are in anyway related to the Sabah claim,&quot; Cruz-Angeles told reporters. </p><p>&quot;At the moment wala pa pong articulation so we have to wait,&quot; she added.</p><p>A French Arbitral court earlier ordered the Malaysian government to pay the heirs of the Sulu sultanate $14 billion for its land lease violation dating back to 1878.</p><p>Malaysia has refused to recognize the ruling.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe allow="autoplay; fullscreen" frameBorder="0" height="100%" id="ivsplayer01" scrolling="no" src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/html/iframe-src.html?iframeid=ivsplayer01&amp;key=e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603&amp;spid=3001339&amp;vid=2154111" width="100%"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more News on <a href="https://www.iwanttfc.com/#!/browse/Genres/News/tag_id_genres/id_news" target="_blank">iWantTFC</a></div><p>The Philippines lays claim over Sabah, citing a land lease agreement in 1878 between the Sultanate of Sulu and the British North Borneo Chartered Co.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/spotlight/05/18/22/umanoy-sabwatan-para-di-mabawi-ang-sabah-walang-basehan">FACT CHECK: Walang basehan ang umano&#x27;y sabwatan ni Ninoy Aquino, Malaysia para sa Sabah</a></li></ul><p>Malaysia has governed Sabah while the Philippines continues to assert its claim. </p><div><strong>WHAT MARCOSES, HARRY ROQUE SAY</strong></div><p>Former presidential spokesman Harry Roque, Marcos&#x27; private counsel, has praised the French court&#x27;s decision against Malaysia, saying it &quot;strengthens&quot; the Philippines&#x27; claim to Sabah.</p><p>&quot;The Philippines has never surrendered its claim to the territory,&quot; said Roque in a Facebook post in July.</p><p>&quot;I advise our President to clarify whether the country will actively pursue this claim or allow the Sultanate heirs to negotiate privately with the Malaysian government,&quot; he added. </p><p>Roque <a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/07/30/20/sabah-belongs-to-philippines-says-palace-as-dormant-territorial-dispute-put-on-spotlight">said in 2020</a> that Manila remains firm in its claim on the territory based on an agreement with the Sultanate of Sulu. </p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/03/07/19/mahathir-on-philippines-claim-to-sabah-there-is-no-claim">Mahathir on Philippines’ claim to Sabah: ‘There is no claim’</a></li></ul><p>Malaysia had denied that the Philippines has a claim on Sabah. </p><p>In March 2013, Marcos Jr. said Sabah belongs to the Philippines. </p><p>&quot;We, as a republic, have a claim over Sabah since the 1960&#x27;s, we have historical claim over Sabah and that&#x27;s a fact,&quot; Marcos, then a senator, said in a press release. </p><p>&quot;The Sultan of Sulu and his people are Filipino citizens and, by virtue of that fact, they deserve protection from the government of the Philippines... it&#x27;s the responsibility of the government to protect its citizens,&quot; he added.</p><p>His father, the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos, Sr., in September 1968 said the Philippines would pursue any <a href="https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/1968/09/22/remarks-of-president-marcos-on-a-radio-television-chat-regarding-the-sabah-claim-issue/">peaceful means</a> to stake its claims to Sabah and bring the issue to the International Court of Justice. </p><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe allow="autoplay; fullscreen" frameBorder="0" height="100%" id="ivsplayer01" scrolling="no" src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/html/iframe-src.html?iframeid=ivsplayer01&amp;key=e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603&amp;spid=3001339&amp;vid=2154107" width="100%"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar"><em>Video from PTV</em></div>

A French Arbitral court earlier ordered the Malaysian government to pay the heirs of the Sulu sultanate $14 billion for its land lease violation dating back to 1878.

Marcos Jr. admin yet to declare stance on Sabah claim, Palace says

News

Entertainment

Lifestyle

Sports

Metro.Style

More

Sudoku

Word of the Day

Lotto

Horoscope

News

Marcos Jr. admin yet to declare stance on Sabah claim, Palace says

Job Manahan,

ABS-CBN News

Published August 02, 2022 06:57 PM PHT

|

Updated August 09, 2022 07:21 PM PHT

Read More:

Malaysia

Sabah

Marcos Sabah

Bongbong Marcos Sabah

Sabah issue

diplomacy

ABS-CBN is the leading media and entertainment company in the Philippines, offering quality content across TV, radio, digital, and film. Committed to public service and promoting Filipino values, ABS-CBN continues to inspire and connect audiences worldwide.

Corporate

Investors

Governance

International Distribution

Corporate

Governance

Investors

International Distribution

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

AI Policy

Terms of Service

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.