Leaders of the Muslim community in Barangay Culiat have signed a peace covenant with the Quezon City Police District to ensure a closer working relationship in maintaining peace and order in the area, especially in the fight against illegal drugs.
The covenant enjoins all parties to ensure 24/7 security and protection inside and within the Salaam Compound, with the QCPD deploying at least 10 policemen and creating a police detachment in the area.
QCPD’s peacekeeping efforts will be beefed up by civilian volunteers duly endorsed by community leaders.
In his remarks after the covenant signing, Mayor Herbert Bautista underscored the need for Muslim communities to become more organized.
The mayor also underscored the need to expand the covenant with other Muslim communities in the city, including those in Batasan, Payatas and Novaliches.
“We should also go to the other Muslim communities in the city,” Bautista said.
The covenant, signed at Monday’s flag-raising ceremony at QC Hall, also stipulated the need to provide all residents of Salaam Compound with identification cards for monitoring purposes.
All vehicles owned by residents of Salaam Compound will be issued passes to avoid the entry of unwanted persons and contraband. The covenant also called for the surrender of illegal firearms and ammunitions to the police.
It also stressed the need for regular dialogue between the police and Muslim leaders to address pressing issues, as they agreed to cooperate in times of calamities, whether natural or man-made.