Padilla: Discrimination triggered Taguig cops’ gun duel

MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Robinhood Padilla is calling for a Senate investigation of a gun duel involving two police officers in Taguig, saying it was triggered by discrimination.

Padilla filed Senate Resolution 743 for the Senate committee on cultural communities and Muslim affairs to conduct an inquiry in aid of legislation into the plight of the Muslim community “in light of the numerous acts and practices that disadvantage and undermine their religious beliefs, particularly in the observance of their dietary principles.”

Padilla said the gunfight allegedly stemmed from a pork dish prepared at the Taguig police station. The Aug. 7 incident left one police officer dead and another in critical condition.

He said the Muslim officer provided him a letter wherein he said the incident “was exacerbated by previous instances of discrimination and mockery” aimed at him, as well as the surreptitious serving of pork without his knowledge.

Padilla also included in the investigation previous instances that violated Islamic dietary laws, including the finding by the Department of Science and Technology-Calabarzon showing 51 products of a processed food brand with the “halal” logo were contaminated with pork or its derivatives, and that the halal certifier of the products was not accredited by the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos.

He also cited a 2021 Commission on Audit report flagging a caterer contracted by the Bureau of Corrections for serving pork to Muslims and Seventh Day Adventist inmates, violating the food subsistence agreement that inmates shall be given food in accordance with their religious practice.

The investigation would also cover an attempt in 2022 to take former senator Leila de Lima hostage at the Philippine National Police Custodial Center, where one of the Muslim inmates recounted being served pork.

Padilla said the General Santos City government was urged to establish a dedicated area for halal food items within the local government-run central market after it was found that some vendors applied a coating of pig blood to fish slices to make them appear fresh.