Cagayan governor ‘sorry’ for anti-Muslim slur

TUGUEGARAO CITY—Cagayan Gov. Manuel Mamba on Thursday apologized for relating the absence of Muslims in the province to the prevailing peace and order in the area.

In a statement, Mamba said he was “sincerely apologizing for any misunderstanding” of his remark since there are Muslims in Cagayan and he has “a high respect for our Muslim brothers as peace-loving people but not those who are into extremism.”

He said he had established a close relationship with the Muslim community in Cagayan and created job opportunities for them.

He added that his remark was directed only at terrorists and not law-abiding citizens. —VILLAMOR VISAYA JR.