Philippine president Benigno Aquino has defended his administration's handling of the Sabah crisis, in the face of criticism from various quarters within the country.

NONE “This incident is wrong. If this is wrong, then why do we have to support it?” Aquino was quoted as saying during an election campaign rally today.

In the Philippine Daily Inquirer report, Aquino insisted that the Sabah claim should be resolved peacefully and the territorial dispute was started when the Sulu sultanate leased Sabah to the British North Borneo Company in 1878.

“What is the cause of the problem? Isn’t it that their ancestors began it when they leased Sabah to the British?

“If they have a problem with the agreement, and if we are interested, then we need to talk about it in a peaceful manner. If the agreement signed then was wrong, then we need to correct it.

“It’s not yet clear that they are sharing their right to Sabah with the Philippines. But in their fight, the entire nation is being dragged into the issue.”

He said it is his obligation as head of the state to protect the interests of the majority of the citizens, but that the propaganda war has affected the relationship between Manila and Kuala Lumpur.

The people have witnessed his repeated appeals to the self-proclaimed Sulu sultan Jamalul Kiram to return home and resolve the problem peacefully, said Aquino.

“Is it correct that we support those carrying arms, and there is killing?” he asked.