SENATOR  Robinhood Padilla is seeking to integrate the study of the Philippines’ sovereignty claim over North Borneo, now known as Sabah, into the curricula of all public and private basic education institutions.

Under Senate Bill No. 1659, or the proposed Sabah Mandatory Education Act, Padilla emphasized that the issue of Philippine sovereignty over Sabah remains a significant yet often misunderstood chapter in the country’s history and foreign relations.

“Rooted in historical treaties, legal instruments, and continuing assertions of sovereign rights by the heirs of the Sultanate of Sulu, the Sabah claim forms part of the broader narrative of Philippine territorial integrity and national patrimony,” Padilla said in his explanatory note.

The senator noted that the spread of historical distortion, selective narratives, and general public unfamiliarity with the legal and factual bases of the Philippine claim have weakened understanding of the issue.

This, he said, underscores the need to educate younger generations on the historical origins, legal foundations, and present-day implications of the Sabah claim—aligned with the State’s duty to promote patriotism, nationalism, and informed citizenship.

The proposed measure aims to institutionalize the inclusion of North Borneo studies in basic education curricula across both public and private schools. It seeks to ensure that Filipino learners gain accurate, balanced, and age-appropriate knowledge of the country’s sovereign claims, the principles of international law involved, and the broader implications for national identity and foreign policy.