The National Bureau of Investigation served subpoenas on "Sulu sultan" Jamalul Kiram III and members his family but just as quickly withdrew these because they "don't want to embarrass the family."
The subpoenas were supposed to be in compliance with President Benigno Aquino III's order to investigate what he claims is a "conspiracy" to instigate the sultan to order his followers to Sabah and press their historical claim to the territory.
Although he has admitted not having enough proof to name names, Aquino has hinted that personalities in the previous administration were involved in the supposed conspiracy.
The withdrawal of the subpoenas followed a closed door meeting between the Kirams, who were joined by Council for Philippine Affairs secretary general Pastor "Boy" Saycon, acknowledged "adviser" of the sultan, and the NBI agents who served the documents at the Kiram residence in Maharlika Village, Taguig City.
The subpoenas, signed by NBI director Nonnatus Ceasar Rojas and Palmer Mallari, head of the Technical Investigation Division, ordered the sultan, his wife Fatima Celia (right), daughter princess Jacel, brother Bantilan Esmail, and spokesman Abraham Idjirani to appear and "shed light on the Sabah incident."Lawyer Aristotle Adolfo, who led the eight-man NBI team, confirmed that they were taking back the subpoenas because "we don't want to embarass the family."
Instead, only Idjirani, accompanied by Saycon, will go to NBI headquarters in Manila on Thursday, March 14.
If the NBI is not satisfied with Idjirani's statements, Saycon said, "then we will arrange to bring them" to the Kiram residence "and meet behind closed doors."
Saycon, who had been subpoenaed earlier, had gone to NBI headquarters before joining the Kirams. A close associate of Jose "Peping" Cojuangco, Aquino's uncle, Saycon has denied anything to do with the Sabah crisis.
He also explained that the sultan, Esmail and Idjirani would be unable to heed the summons to appear on Friday because it is the Muslim holy day.
The sultan's wife and daughter, on the other hand, were originally scheduled to appear at the NBI on Thursday.
Earlier, Fatima Celia, who received the subpoenas, had said: "We will show up and we are not afraid because we will only be telling the truth. We will lecture them, we will bring a PowerPoint presentation."
After the subpoenas were withdrawn, she said she was relieved because appearing at the investigation would be "a waste of time."
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