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<img src="https://cdn.kahimyang.com/resources-15/marcos-aquino-sm.webp" alt="Marcos Sr., and Aquino Jr."  loading="lazy"/>
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(President Ferdinand Marcos Sr. (left) and Benigno Aquino Jr.)
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Marcos Jr. said then:
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"We, as a republic, have had a claim over Sabah since the 1960s, we have a historical claim over Sabah and that's a fact."
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In a statement released by his office in the Senate at the height of the Lahad Datu standoff, the incumbent President said the Sultan of Sulu and his followers were Filipinos and deserve protection from the government:
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"But whatever else the issue there may be, 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."
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Marcos said the Aquino administration has the duty to protect all Filipinos caught in the middle of the crossfire between Kiram's followers and the Malaysian police.
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He noted this should be prioritized before the government officials decide to discuss or debate the legitimacy of Kiram's claim of ownership of the disputed territory in North Borneo.
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Marcos Jr. said:
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"Pero bago natin pag-usapan ang claim, protektahan muna natin ang mga Pilipino. (We before we discuss any claims, let's protect first the Filipinos). We should talk to the Malaysians to spare the Filipinos from harm or harassment and to resolve this matter peacefully." 
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"First and foremost, it's the responsibility of the government to protect its citizens." 
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But instead of heeding the call of then-Senator Marcos, Aquino asked the Sultanate army to surrender to Malaysian authorities without any condition.
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A hotline between Malaysian Prime minister Najib and Aquino was set up to neutralize the Sultanate army.
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The Marcoses, the Aquinos and the Sabah claim