Manila Muslim community leader downplays terror threat

MANILA, Philippines—A Muslim community leader downplayed on Sunday President Aquino’s warnings of a local terrorism threat on the Black Nazarene procession in downtown Manila on Monday.

“I think it’s just speculation; the Black Nazarene processions have always been peaceful and Muslims respect the devotees,” Datu Amerol Gulam Ambiong, president of the National Muslim Peace and Order Council (NMPOC) , told the Philippine Daily Inquirer in a phone interview.

Ambiong, who lives in the Muslim community in San Miguel, Manila, expressed worry that Muslims would be unduly blamed as being the source of the threat.

The NMPOC, an umbrella group of Muslim civil society organizations, which has ties with the Philippine National Police and local authorities, has pledged to send 20 volunteers to the procession activities on Monday to give assistance to authorities, Ambiong said.

“Our volunteers will be deployed in Quiapo and procession routes to monitor the activities. A Muslim can easily identify a fellow Muslim and can easily determine if that person is a stranger or is acting suspiciously. They’ll be on standby and we can order them to assist the authorities if the need arises,” Ambiong said.

The community leader, however, said, that based on reports the NMPOC had received throughout the Muslim quarter, no foreign Muslims or unexpected visitors have been to the Quiapo-San Miguel area in the past few days.

“The terrorists won’t come to the Islamic center because they will be easily recognized,” he said.

Ambiong said Manila’s Muslims have always respected Christians and their religious activities. He said the Black Nazarene procession usually passes through streets of the Muslim community such as Carlos Palanca and Globo de Oro.

“There have been no disturbances caused by Muslims during the Black Nazarene procession. Manila’s Muslims are a peaceful people and live harmoniously with Christians. We respect each other one hundred percent,” he said.

He added that he even persuaded Muslim sidewalk vendors selling audio CDs of Muslim religious songs and other religious items and wares to make way for the Black Nazarene procession and its devotees.

Ambiong added that prayers and other religious services at the Quiapo Golden Mosque would proceed as usual.