Muslim leaders renew peace vows

CEBU, Philippines – Office of Muslim Affairs-7 regional director Sakiran Hajan yesterday brought to City Hall the leaders of the 16 Muslim communities in different places in Metro Cebu to renew their assurance that they will help the government detect suspicious persons.

Hajan said at present his office still has not received any report of “new arrivals” with suspicious movements, aside from those who are regularly engaged in legitimate business that requires them to travel frequently between Cebu and Mindanao.

In a separate meeting, the police officials headed by city police director Patrocinio Comendador assured Acting Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama that they will try their best to monitor movements of persons, particularly in crowded areas.

Rama instructed Comendador to deploy uniformed and plainclothes policemen to places where people gather, such as churches, public plazas, malls and terminals to thwart attempts to disrupt the peace and order.

The members of the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the organization of businessmen in Cebu, also assured that they will instruct their security guards to be more vigilant in detecting possible explosives in their respective posts.

Hajan believes that if all sectors of the community will work hand-in-hand the peace and order in Cebu City and the rest of the region will be maintained.

He said that the series of bombings since last Sunday in Cotabato, Jolo and Iligan City, seems to be planned by some unscrupulous persons intending to destabilize the peace efforts of the government.

Hajan explained that his Muslim brothers in Cebu City and in other parts of the province are peace-loving people and willing to help the government’s efforts to maintain peace here. — Rene U. Borromeo/BRP (THE FREEMAN)