SolGen: Phl not involved in Sultanate of Sulu-heirs' cases with M'sia

The Philippine government is not privy to the cases between the heirs of the Sultanate of Sulu and Malaysia.

This was the response of Solicitor General Menardo Guevarra when asked to comment on the latest development regarding the $14.9 billion claim of the Sultanate over the disputed territory, which is currently under Malaysia’s jurisdiction.

“The Philippine government is not privy to the cases between the heirs of the Sultanate of Sulu and Malaysia. Based on independent reports, however, it appears that the heirs have suffered setbacks in the enforcement of the arbitral award amounting to $14.9 billion in their favor,” Guevarra said in a Viber message to the DAILY TRIBUNE.

Earlier, Guevarra told the DAILY TRIBUNE that updates on the recent developments related to the French arbitration award over the Sabah claim had been relayed to the Palace.

The Paris Court of Appeal’s judgment in June 2023 found that the arbitral tribunal that heard the petition filed by the Filipino heirs of the last Sultan of Sulu lacked jurisdiction over the case.

The Paris-based Cour de Cassation ruled that a Spanish arbitrator did not have standing in France to order the Southeast Asian country to pay $15 billion to the claimants. The arbitrator had moved the case to France in 2021 after a Spanish court nullified his appointment in Spain.

The Malaysian government is represented in France by the law firm Bredin Prat, while the firm Gaillard Banifatemi Shelbaya Disputes represents the claimants.

Malaysian Minister of Law and Institutional Reform Azalina Othman Said praised the French ruling in a Facebook post, describing it as a “historic victory.”

She stated that the decision invalidates the initial basis for the "sham" final award, which ordered Malaysia to pay $15 billion, as it is not recognized under French law.

The judgment also implied that the Paris Court of Appeal would likely annul the earlier $14.9 billion award.

Previously, the Filipino claimants had attempted to seize three properties owned by the Malaysian government in Paris, as well as assets of Malaysia's state oil firm Petronas in Luxembourg and the Netherlands.