The Islamic Center in Quiapo, one of the biggest Muslim communities in Metro Manila, has renewed its commitment to protect the City of Manila from extremists and criminals.
Amid the recent arrests of three alleged Abu Sayyaf terrorists in Quezon City, whom police said had planned to terrorize the recent Asean Summit, Grand Imam Solaiman Sarangani reassured Mayor Joseph Estrada that their community will not in any way harbor lawless elements.
“We are always reminding our Muslim brothers that whenever they notice someone or something suspicious they should report it immediately to the authorities,” the senior Muslim cleric said in an interview.
Like all peace-loving Filipinos, he said the Muslim community believes that by helping preserve peace progress will follow. “We all believe that if there is peace, there will be relief and that the community will progress,” Sarangani said.
Estrada, in response, said he has never doubted the sincerity of the peace-loving Muslim people of Manila.
“The city government is thankful to the cooperation and unwavering support of our Muslim brothers and sisters. In times like this, we must work together to fight extremism and violence,” Estrada said.
For its part, a Filipino Muslim youth group based in Manila likewise expressed its dedication to pursue peace not only in Manila but also in the entire country.
“We remain committed to peace as Muslims because Islam is our way of life which is peaceful. Our contribution to peace in Manila is Islam. That’s how simple it is,” said Alnajib Butlangan Maujon, director of Markaz Dar-Attazkiyah (Abode of Purification Islamic Library and Da’wa Center).
Maujon also heads the Federation of Muslim Students Association (FMSA)-Manila
“We work at our organization to promote education and youth empowerment. We remain to be part of the solution and not the problem,” the Muslim youth leader said.
He added they also regularly conduct Islamic awareness programs in the form of interfaith dialogue and forum in schools and other venues “to promote mutual respect, interdependence, tolerance and unity amidst diversity among youths from all religions and faith.”
After the breakout of violence in Marawi City, Estrada immediately moved to secure the Quiapo Muslim community and protect Muslim residents from discrimination and anti-Muslim sentiments.
Immediately thereafter, he and Manila Police District (MPD) director Chief Supt. Joel Coronel opened talks with the Muslim clerics and barangay leaders to work out a joint security arrangement to protect the community and the entire city from possible spillover of violence from Mindanao and other security threats.
As to the recently reported presence of “foreign jihadists” in the country, Estrada said the city government and local police are closely coordinating with the senior leaders of the three Muslim communities in Manila – in Quiapo, Sta. Mesa, and Baseco Compound.
The City Hall has forged a security arrangement with these Muslim enclaves wherein the local community and barangay leaders would immediately report the presence of suspicious individuals in their neighborhood, he added.