June 22, 2001, The Philippine Star, Govt Protects Sabah Claim,

June 22, 2001, The Philippine Star, Govt Protects Sabah Claim,

Manila, June 20, 2001 - In an effort to protect its claim over Sabah, the Philippines today sent a legal team which will enter oral arguments on behalf of the country before the United Nations International Court of Justice.

The team, headed by Foreign Affairs Undersecretary for Legal Affairs Merlin Magalona, will be in The Hague, Netherlands from June 25 to 29 to intervene in the case between Indonesia and Malaysia which are disputing two small islands located near Sabah.

"We have to make it clear that while it is true that the judgment would not bind us, any decision of the ICJ may create a strong bias against our claim over Sabah," Magalona said.

Indonesia and Malaysia are disputing ownership of the islands of Ligitan and Sipadan located off Borneo.

But since these two islands are also located close to Sabah, which is adjacent to the Sulu archipelago, the Philippine government filed a motion to intervene in the dispute.

Netherlands-based lawyer Michael Reisman has been retained by the Philippine government to help in arguing the case on behalf of the country.

Other members of the legal team are Dr. Peter Payoyo of the University of the Philippines College of Law, DFA assistant secretaries for maritime and legal affairs Alberto Encomienda and Alejandro Mosquera, respectively, and DFA legal officer Igor Baylen.