Running priest joins bid to save Baclaran mosque

MANILA, Philippines - Running priest Fr. Robert Reyes joined Muslim families in Baclaran, Pasay City as they observed their Ramadan fast yesterday to show support for their campaign to save their mosque, which is set to be transferred to give way to a transport terminal.

Reyes said he is one with the Muslim community in their fight to save the mosque, which was built in 1994 and is a holy landmark for Muslims in the area.

“Let it stay together with our churches so that it may be seen as a symbol of Muslim and Christian understanding in our country,” Reyes said.

According to the Urban Poor Associates (UPA), a memorandum sent by Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita last May 26 to the Philippine Reclamation Authority showed that President Arroyo ordered the relocation of the mosque to another site near the Coastal Road.

The memorandum allegedly stated that the reclaimed land, where the mosque is standing, must be cleared to give way to the Southwest Public Transport Intermodal Center, the UPA said. However, residents said the area would be used for high-end housing and casinos.

Abdelmanan Tanandato, leader of the Samahan ng Nagkakaisang Nademolis sa Roxas Boulevard, said their group is very happy with the support given by the Catholic Church and different non-government organizations.

“Their respect towards our culture, rights and religious beliefs strengthened our hope that we will be able to come up with an amicable solution to this problem,” he said.

Tanandato said they have filed a motion to quash the writ of execution, served last Aug. 13 by the Parañaque Regional Trial Court Branch 274.

UPA community organizer Jun Alferez said a total of 3,295 families were evicted this year alone as a result of the government’s “beautification” projects. – Helen Flores, Rhodina Villanueva