MUSLIMS NIX TERRORISM: Condemn Mindanao bombings, support anti-terror drive

TERRORISM has no place in Islam.

Members of the United Muslim Federation of Western Visayas (UMFWV) stressed this point amid recent bombings in Jolo, Sulu and Zamboanga City.

The UMFWV, an association of 27 Muslim communities in Region 6, has established ties with the Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6) since 2012 during the incumbency of retired Chief Superintendent Cipriano Querol, then Western Visayas police chief and a Balik Islam or convert.

On Jan. 31, 2019, thirty-seven representatives from 27 different Muslim communities in Western Visayas attended the first regular meeting with Western Visayas police officers at the PRO-6 headquarters in Camp Delgado, Iloilo City.

Hadji Muamar Faisal Arumpac, UMFWV regional chairman, said their group strongly condemns the twin bombing at the Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catheral in Jolo, Sulu that left 20 dead and more than 80 persons wounded.

“That’s not our way of life,” Arumpac said.

During yesterday’s meeting, the UMFWV committed to support the programs of PRO-6, especially on the government’s anti-terrorism campaign.

Some UMFWV members are part of the PRO-6 Inter-Faith Organization where they actively serve as life coaches in support of the Moral Enhancement Program for Police Officers.

The meeting adopted the theme: “Building Resilient Community Against Terrorism.”

It was organized by the Regional Police Community Relations Division under Superintendent Victorino Romanillos.

Senior Superintendent Harold Tuzon, the PRO-6 Regional Chief of the Directorial Staff, led the PRO-6 contingent.

Superintendent Joem Malong said issues on peace and order and security were discussed during the meeting.

Malong said the Muslim group has agreed to institute interventions to prevent any extremist from sowing terror in the region.

“They assured us they would implement the ID system, in coordination with the nearest local police station where different Muslim communities are based,” she said.

Malong said the Muslim communities also approved the profiling of their members and newcomers from other parts of the country as part of their commitment to prevent terrorist activities in Western Visayas.

While the meeting was a quarterly gathering between the police and the Muslim group, yesterday’s gathering was called following the recent events in Mindanao and the alleged presence of terrorist group ISIS (Islamic State of Iraq and Syria) in Iloilo City.

But PRO-6 has already labeled the information as “fake news.”

The reports, that went viral over SMS or text messaging and different social media platforms, claimed that ISIS members are allegedly planning to launch attacks in the metropolis.

One of the messages claimed that ISIS members are already in Iloilo City and might plan to sow terror, in time for the Jaro fiesta.

But PRO-6 said the information was never verified.

During the meeting, the UMFWV confirmed the presence of nine Indonesian tablighs or Sunni Islam missionaries. Sunni is a Muslim sect.

But these Indonesian Muslim are conducting retreat and went from one mosque to another.

They are reportedly all over Panay already and presently stay in Sara, Iloilo.