Muslims end fasting month of Ramadan

After a month of fasting, Muslims celebrate the end of Ramadan today with the Eid al-Fitr, a national holiday.

President Arroyo led the greetings for the end of the Islamic holy month, emphasizing the need to promote interfaith dialogue and understanding among various religions.

“We greet our brothers and sisters of Islamic faith a blessed Eid Mubarak! Our commitment to interfaith dialogue and understanding draws from the deep recesses of our spirituality as a nation,” Mrs. Arroyo said.

“Eid al-Fitr reminds us not of our differences but of the values and beliefs that serve to enrich our lives and culture,” the President added.

In the holy month of Ramadan, Muslims around the world abstain from eating and drinking from dawn to sunset.

Prayers are done five times a day as part of Ramadan, during which the Muslim faithful seek to make themselves better in the principles of faith.

While a predominantly Christian nation, the Philippines celebrates Eid al-Fitr in recognition of and respect for the Muslim population, a significant portion of whom are situated in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

Eid al-Fitr is marked by huge feasts and celebrations by the Muslim population.

“Let us continue to pray for peace and prosperity for all Filipinos,” the President said.

Security forces, however, were placed on high alert for the possibility of attacks from Muslim extremists.

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Avelino Razon Jr. has ordered “maximum security coverage” at possible terror targets, including critical “infrastructures, malls, transport hubs, and religious shrines.”

“The ASG (Abu Sayyaf Group) and their allied foreign jihadists, plus some rogue MILF (Moro Islamic Liberation Front) members have taken advantage of the Ramadan to recuperate, replenish their logistic resources, recruit new members and plot their next move,” Razon said in the statement.

Abu Sayyaf commanders and rebels met Aug. 26 near a village in al-Barka town in Basilan “and drafted several plans to stage bombings in Zamboanga city and other nearby areas after ... Ramadan,” the PNP said, citing intelligence reports.

The PNP also cited reports that rogue MILF guerrillas are planning attacks against major military, police and civilian installations in the cities of General Santos, Davao and Cagayan de Oro, including kidnapping of foreigners.

Western embassies have warned their nationals in recent months against traveling to Mindanao due to possible bombings, kidnappings and other attacks, citing intelligence information and a series of bomb attacks on passenger buses, possibly the handiwork of terrorists or extortion gangs.

A faction in the MILF earlier warned the military against continuing the offensive against the Abu Sayyaf in Basilan after the Ramadan.

The MILF faction under Hamsa Sapanton warned hostility is likely to break out if government troops will continue operating in their area in hunting the Abu Sayyaf bandits.

Security officials have long suspected that the MILF – which is engaged in Malaysian-brokered peace talks with the government – has operational links with and provides sanctuary to the Abu Sayyaf and Indonesian terror suspects hiding in Sulu.

The MILF has denied any links with terror groups and has pledged to help the government capture long-wanted militants.  – With Cecille Suerte Felipe, AP, AFP