Muslims reaffirm cooperation with authorities

Muslims living in Cebu expressed dismay over being stereotyped as the perpetrators whenever bombings occur in the country.

Abdul Rahman Rabuya of the Islamic Propagation Society of Cebu said that it is unfortunate that Muslims are blamed every time an explosion would occur.

In a press conference held at the City Hall, Rabuya said that true Muslims are God-fearing and are not involved in crimes.

“Any explosions is against the essence of Islam because there is no more peace. To us bombing, killing is unlawful,” he said.

Rabuya and Malo Manonggiring regional director of the National Commission for Muslim Filipinos (NCMF) went to the City Hall yesterday morning to meet with Cebu City Police Office chief Senior Supt. Noli Romana and Police Coordinating and Advisory Council chairman Eugene Elizalde.

“We are assuring the people of Cebu City and region 7 that Muslim residents here are very peace loving citizens and have good coordination with authorities,” said Manonggiring.

He said that 20,000 to 25,000 Muslims in Cebu continue to abide with the agreement they have with local authorities and law enforcement agencies to report to authorities through their leaders the presence of suspicious individuals and groups in their communities.

No connection

Meanwhile, Senior Supt. Romana denied reports that a suspected bomber is now in Cebu.

“Maling mali po iyon [That is very wrong]” he said.

As in any terroristic attack, anything is possible. What they have prepared, Romana added was the possibility of Cebu and other cities in the country as targets of bombing.

The bomb scare spread to Cebu after the July 26 bombing in a bistro in Cagayan de Oro’s Limketkai Commercial Complex that claimed eight lives and injured 46 persons.

Fears further escalated after the August 5 roadside bombing in downtown Cotabato City that killed another eight persons and left scores wounded.

Romana said that as a precautionary measure, CCPO is now doing a review of its security plans. They identified the need to improve on seaport security especially for the arriving passengers and improve police visibility in checkpoints and the response of their motorcycle riding units.

“We are also tapping tanods in the barangays and we encourage the participation of the community (especially in reporting the presence of suspicious-looking individuals),” he said.

Romana said they are now in discussion with the Cebu Ports Authority (CPA) on how to bolster seaport security.

Manonggiring said that the Muslim community in Cebu especially in Cebu City where most of them live and do business are always ready to assist the police and the city government in peacekeeping.

“Gusto namin kasama kami sa development sa mga lugar kung saan kami nandoon,” he said.

(We want to be involved in the development of the locality where we live.)