CEBU, Philippines - Six hundred Muslim pilgrims from Zamboanga City, who are set to attend this year’s Hajj in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, arrived at the Mactan Benito Ebuen Air Base in Lapu-Lapu City via the Philippine Air Force C-130 plane.
The suspension of flights from Zambonga City to Manila has upset the pilgrims’ voyage plans.
PAF has also arranged their flights for Manila with Philippine Air Lines.
The Hajj is the Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia.
It is one of the largest pilgrimages in the world and is the fifth pillar of Islam, a religious duty that must be carried out at least once in their lifetime by every able-bodied Muslim who can afford to do so.
The Hajj is a demonstration of the Solidarity of the Muslim people and their submission to Allah SWT.
Meanwhile, Petty Officer 3 Jose Audrey Bañares, a member of the Philippine Navy Special Operations Group who died fighting hostage takers in Zamboanga City will be buried on September 21.
Bañares was given a hero’s welcome by Lt. Gen. Roy Deveraturda, chief of the Armed Forces Central Command (Centcom); Commodore Reynaldo Yoma, Naval Forces Central (Navforcen) chief; and Brig. Gen. Edwin Manuel Remotigue, 2nd Air Division deputy commander when his body arrived last Wednesday.
A native of barangay (village) Cansagibo at Tabuelan town in northwest Cebu, Bañares was the youngest of nine children, two of whom are serving in the Philippine Navy, one in the Philippine Army, and another in the Philippine National Police.
Bañares served in the Naval Special Operations Group (Navsog) for 18 years.
He is a graduate of the Marine Engineering Course at the University of Cebu.
He married Saturnina Orbita last year. (FREEMAN)