Zamboanga City (CNN Philippines) — Relatives and followers of the late Sultan Esmail Kiram II of the Royal Sultanate of Sulu gathered on Sunday (September 20) at an east coast village in Zamboanga City to attend traditional Muslim rites for the late ruler.
Kiram died at the age of 75 of kidney failure at the Zamboanga Peninsula Hospital in Zamboanga City at 6:20 p.m. on Saturday (September 19).
Family members and relatives, led by Kiram’s second wife Haja Leonor Kiram, attended the Sunday afternoon rites.
Kiram’s body was brought to Sulu via a private six-seater plane, while at least 30 family members and supporters boarded a Navy vessel.
After arrival in Jolo, the body will be brought to the seat of the Sultanate in Maimbung town for burial at the family plot beside his brother Jamalul Kiram III and father Pujungan Kiram.
Another brother, Agbimuddin, was buried in Tawi-Tawi. Agbimuddin, who died January of this year, led the Lahad Datu standoff in 2013.
Esmauk Kiram had two wives, Haja Jainab Kiram and Haja Leonor Kiram. He had four sons and five daughters.
Sultanate Secretary General Abraham Idjirani, who’s also the spokesman, said that the successor to the Sultanate would be announced on Monday (September 21).
Idjirani said that Datu Phugdal Kiram, another brother, is expected to succeed Ismael.
Ismael Kiram ascended to the throne on October 19, 2013 after the death of his brother Jamalul.
