Madrid, Spain. Image: By Daniel Prado on Unsplash

By canceling the appointment of arbitrator Gonzalo Stampa and dismissing the annulment appeal lodged by the heirs of the Sultan, the court has decisively reaffirmed that its ruling was based exclusively on legal merits, free from any external pressure.

Background

The Sulu claim dispute has deep historical roots tied to the legacy of the late Sultan of Sulu and subsequent colonial-era agreements. Over the years, the heirs of the Sultan have attempted to advance legal claims for financial gain. In this context, Gonzalo Stampa was appointed as an arbitrator in proceedings against Malaysia. However, his appointment was later challenged on the basis of his non-compliance with established protocol.

Notably, the seven alleged heirs had previously withdrawn from the proceedings in 2022, reinforcing the judicial principle of legal certainty. This earlier withdrawal has played a critical role in ensuring that the case could not be reopened without undermining established legal protocols.

The Court’s Final Ruling

On February 11, the three-member panel of the Civil and Criminal Chamber—including President Celso Rodríguez Padrón, Francisco José Goyena Salgado, and Jesús María Santos—issued an unequivocal final verdict. The High Court of Justice of Madrid confirmed that the annulment of Stampa’s appointment was grounded solely in legal criteria. A key element of the ruling was the rejection of the heirs’ claim that the decision was influenced by external pressures from the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The court stressed, “It goes without saying that these members of the Court were neither pressured nor allowed themselves to be pressured in any way when making their decision, based solely and exclusively on the legal reasons set out in our Order of June 29, 2021.” The only evidence presented by the plaintiffs was a newspaper article which alleged that a senior official—specifically, the director of the International Legal Advisory Service—had visited the court and engaged in discussions with some judges to influence the outcome. The court found that this claim lacked any objective, corroborative evidence and was based solely on unfounded opinions and unverified journalistic speculation.

Resounding Implications

By rejecting the annulment appeal and imposing legal costs on the plaintiffs, the court not only resolved a critical legal controversy but also set a robust precedent regarding judicial independence and procedural rigor. The finality of the decision, with no possibility of appeal, reaffirms the judiciary's commitment to impartiality and adherence to the rule of law.

Malaysian authorities have welcomed the ruling as a step toward alleviating long standing regional sensitivities and sensationalism, while legal experts praise the decision for clarifying the framework for addressing historical claims. This outcome is expected to pave the way for renewed diplomatic discussions and foster a more stable environment for resolving disputes that intertwine historical legacy with modern legal processes.

The Madrid verdict stands as a definitive resolution in the Sulu claim dispute. It underscores that legal judgments must be based solely on objective criteria, thereby safeguarding the integrity of the judicial process and setting a lasting precedent for future cases rooted in historical controversies.

For the heirs of the Sultan of Sulu, however, the decision signals a precarious future. With their appeal dismissed and additional costs imposed, their prospects for success in future legal challenges appear increasingly dim, setting them up for further setbacks in an already challenging judicial arena.

For the heirs of the Sultan of Sulu, the decision signals a precarious future.

REFERENCES

Abu Bakar, N. N. (2025, February 19). Malaysia welcomes Spanish court’s decision in Sulu claim case. The Malaysian Reserve. https://themalaysianreserve.com/2025/02/19/malaysia-welcomes-spanish-courts-decision-in-sulu-claim-case/

Berbell, C. (2025, February 18). El TSJM rechaza la nulidad de actuaciones pretendida por los herederos del Sultán de Sulu: No hubo injerencia política. Confilegal. https://confilegal.com/20250218-el-tsjm-rechaza-la-nulidad-de-actuaciones-pretendida-por-los-herederos-del-sultan-de-sulu-no-hubo-injerencia-politica/

Decisión trascendental de la justicia madrileña en el caso de los herederos de un sultán que exigen a España 16.000 millones de euros. (2025, February 18). ElHuffPost. https://www.huffingtonpost.es/global/decision-trascendental-justicia-madrilena-caso-herederos-sultan-exigen-espana-16000-millones-euros.html

High Court of Justice of Madrid confirms Stampa’s annulment as arbitrator in Sulu case. (2025, February 17). The Edge Malaysia. https://theedgemalaysia.com/node/744739

MalaysiaGazette. (2025, February 18). Tuntutan Sulu: Mahkamah Madrib sahkan pelantikan Gonzalo Stampa dibatalkan. MalaysiaGazette. https://malaysiagazette.com/2025/02/18/tuntutan-sulu-mahkamah-madrib-sahkan-pelantikan-gonzalo-stampa-dibatalkan/