Acceptance by the Republic of the Philippines of the
Cession and Transfer of the Terriroty of North Borneo by His Highness, Sultan Mohammad Esmail Kiram,
Sultan of Sulu, Acting with the Consent and Approval of the Ruma Bechara,
in Council Assembled, to the Republic of the Philippines^*

WHEREAS His Highness, Sultan Mohammad Esmail Kiram, Sultan of  Sulu, has, by Instrument of Cession and transfer dated April 24, 1962, ceded and transferred the Territory of North Borneo and the title of sovereignty and dominion over North Borneo, with the consent and approval of the Ruma Bechara of the Sultanate of Sulu;

WHEREAS, it is the understanding of the Republic of the Philippines that the Cession and Transfer of the Territory of North Borneo and the title of sovereignty and dominion over North Borneo by His Highness, Sultan Mohammad Esmail Kiram, Sultan of Sulu, on April 24 1962, is as follows:

“CESSION AND TRANSFER OF THE TERRITORY OF NORTH BORNEO
“BY HIS HIGHNESS, SULTAN MOHAMMAD ESMAIL KIRAM,
“SULTAN OF SULU, ACTING WITH THE CONSENT
AND APPROVAL OF THE RUMA BECHARA,
“IN COUNCIL ASSEMBLED, TO THE
“REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES

“WHEREAS, for the last two hundred years or more the title of sovereignty and dominion over the Territory of North Borneo has been vested in the Sultanate of Sulu;

WHEREAS Sultan Mohamet Jamal Al Alam (or Sultan Jamalul Agham), then the head of the Sultanate of Sulu signed a deed granting the lease of the Territory of North Borneo to Gustavus Baron de Overbeck and Alfred Dent, representatives of a British company, for a consideration of Five Thousand Dollars payable annually to him or to his heirs and successors;

Sultan of Sulu, to the Republic of the Philippines.

DONE at Manila, Philippines, this 25^th day of April in the Year of Our Lord, 1962.

(Signed) SALVADOR P. LOPEZ
Acting Secretary of Foreign Affairs
of the Republic of the Philippines

Footnote:

^* From a copy provided by the Department of Foreign Affairs, Manila.

Source: The Philippine Claim to a Portion of North Borneo