Muslim religious group leaders meet Manila Mayor Isko Moreno at City Hall
MANILA, Philippines – Aksyon Demokratiko standard bearer and Manila Mayor Isko Moreno Domagoso’s presidential bid was further boosted by a coalition of Muslim religious leaders declaring their all-out support for his candidcy.
On Tuesday, officers of the Ummah Party Ulama Alliance for Good Governance and Pilipinas God First Movement-Aksyon Demokratiko were at the Manila City Hall where they signed a manifesto of support for Moreno’s presidential bid.
Moreno just arrived from his three-day sortie in the Bicol region, but despite the hectic campaign, the city mayor remained energetic after seeing the officers of the Ummah Party Ulama Alliance cheering him as he entered the conference room.
Completing Marawi rehab
In a short message, Moreno apologized for the years of neglect of Muslims in the country.
If elected president, he also vowed to finish the rehabilitation of Marawi City by December 2022.
“I am happy that you appreciate our small gesture. Maraming salamat kay (BARMM Interim) Chief Minister (Ahod Al-haj) Murad, kay Vice Chair Gadzhali Jaafar. Kung ano nasimulan sa BOL (Bangsamoro Organic Law) itutuloy natin,” Moreno said.
“Forgiveness is different from forgetting especially to the ones who committed such atrocities,” he said.
Moreno, at the same time, said he was told that his hand sign during campaign rallies (raising his index finger and saying the words “God first”) is apparently a holy sign in Islam.
“Is this coincidental? Providential? I don’t know,” said Moreno.
Moreno and Matoa Ameroddin “Abu Mohammad” Sarangani, the Chairperson of the Ummah Party Ulama and Alliance for Good Governance, were among the signatories of the memorandum of cooperation which was witnessed by Aksyon senatorial candidate Samira Gutoc, who also came from the Bicol sortie.
Gutoc delivered the welcome message on behalf of the Aksyon Demokratiko.
Similar messages were also delivered by Bangsamoro Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) MP James Macaraya and the Lanao Coalition of Volunteer Groups for Isko (Lanao Masuawara Council for Isko).
An oathtaking of support for Moreno was led by Shey Sakaluran Mohammad, the chairperson of Pilipinas God First, before the actual signing of the manifesto.
Muslim religious groups meet mayor isko in Manila City hal
Also present during the manifesto of support signing were Jalaludin Sarangani, Ummah party president, Drieza Lininding, Marawi IDPS chair- Pilipinas God First, Maulana Mamutuk, chairperson, Ranao God First Movement, Nassif Malawani, chairperson, United Bangsamoro Isko Moreno for President Movement, and Mohammad Nurkan, chairperson for Youth – Pilipinas God First.
Close Muslim ties
During the open forum, Sarangani of Ummah Party said his group is supporting the presidential bid of the 47-year-old local chief executive as he is the right man to lead the country in the next six years considering the numerous accomplishments he achieved for the City of Manila in less than three years.
One such accomplishment of Moreno which is very close to the hearts of Filipino Muslims is the establishment of the first government-run Islamic cemetery in Manila.
In June 2021, the 47-year-old local chief executive inaugurated the Manila city government’s first Islamic Cemetery and Cultural Hall inside the Manila South Cemetery.
Muslims have been struggling in burying their dead for lack of proper burial grounds in Manila.
“You are the right man to lead the country, you are our upcoming president and you can count on our support. When we inaugurated the Islamic cemetery, I made a prayer for you Yorme that you will be the next president of the Philippines, it is stated in the Quran, pray to me and I will listen,” Sarangani said.
Support for Bangsamoro
Dr. Fatani Sultan “Maulana” Abdulmalik, the National President of the Ulama and Imam of the Philippines, said his group is all-out for Moreno as he assured the Bangsamoro people that he will continue and support the Bangsamoro Government if he becomes the next president of the country.
“BBM (Bongbong Marcos) said that kahit isang patak ng Lake Lanao hindi mapupunta sa Bangsamoro, we need a president who will preserve The Bangsamoro Organic Law,” Abdulmalik said.
Abdul Hanan Tago, the National President of the Ulama Supreme Council for Peace and Development, meanwhile, said they are backing Moreno because he “retrieved the lost identity of Muslims.”
“Susuklian namin kung ano mga nagawa mo sa mga Muslim,” Macaraya, BARMM Member of Parliament,” said.
Prudent, efficient government
During a campaign sortie in Buluan, Maguindanao last month, Moreno assured all Muslims in the country that they can expect an ideal, prudent and efficient government that will treat its people equally regardless of social status if he becomes president.
“Sa akin ang gobyernong ipararamdam natin sa tao gobyernong Mindanao, Visayas, Luzon; mahirap, middle class, mayaman. Gobyernong pantay-pantay sa mata ng pamahalaan. May equal opportunity and that’s the only way to achieve the long-lasting peace and prosperity in all corners, islands of our country and I will do that, may awa ang Diyos. Bigyan ako ng lakas ng pangangatawan at bigyan ako ng pagkakataon ng Diyos at taong bayan matutupad yung pangarap nila. Nasasanla naman ang laway ko eh,” Moreno said.
Moreno also assured the Bangsamoro people that he will continue and support the Bangsamoro Government if he becomes the next president of the Republic.
He also vowed that his administration will continue to support the Bangsamoro government to sustain its momentum towards long-lasting peace and provide its people with the minimum basic needs – housing, hospitals, and schools.