evidence: Sabah, known for its resource-rich lands, is a territory occupied by Malaysia but claimed by the Philippines as part of Mindanao. [...] Although the Philippines has never relinquished its claim of sovereignty over Sabah, it has for the most part kept that claim dormant to maintain harmonious ties with Malaysia. [...] "They must be Filipino because Sabah is ours! That’s all there is to it. If Malaysia doesn’t like it, that’s too goddamned bad for them. This question of ASEAN amity – that won’t get in the way of my assertion of what is ours," he said.