Muslim religious leaders condemn Iligan blasts

(www.mindanews.com)

ILIGAN CITY (MindaNews/30 December) -- Muslim religious leaders ofthis city strongly condemned the recent twin bombings here that killed two persons on the spot and wounded 43 others.
"The imams are saddened by the turn of events that killed and wounded civilians. We strongly condemn this incident to the utmost," saidUstadj Tawantawan M. Cauntongan Monday in a press conference on security and social relations initiated by the Civil SocietyOrganizations- Forum for Peace Inc., at DY Dimsum restaurant.
"Those believers of Islam cannot do this kind of violence to our brethren hence, I appeal to all Muslim and Christians that we should be united to fight against these senseless killings," he said.
"But while we condemn this, we wish to emphasize that this is not a religious war," he said.
The imams also asked the military, police and the civil society to help educate the public on giving equal treatment to all citizens.
They also appealed to media not to allow sweeping accusations against the Moro community as suspects in the bombing to be aired on radio.
"Islam as a religion forbids evil-doing," Cauntongan said.
He added many Maranaos live in Iligan city "to enjoy peace."
"There is no religion that teaches violence. Christians and Muslims alike share the same boat in this journey that's why we need to be the bridge of understanding, " said Yusoph Macabado, also a Muslimreligious leader here.
"We all had historical prejudices, misconceptions and biases succeeded by generations, that is why we need to dialogue," he said.
He added many Maranaos live in Iligan city "to enjoy peace."
"There is no religion that teaches violence. Christians and Muslimsalike share the same boat in this journey that's why we need to be thebridge of understanding, " said Yusoph Macabado, also a Muslim religious leader here.
"We all had historical prejudices, misconceptions and biases succeeded by generations, that is why we need to dialogue," he said.
Ustadj Samang Baunta said "we do not want Muslim-Christian conflicts and we also urge everyone that for whatever happened let us not put the law into our hands. All of us religious leaders have roles to play."
Bert Macapanton, a representative of the civil society in Lanao del Sur, also condemned the bombings as a barbaric act.
He asked the media not to put the blame on Muslims in general.
He said Najma Basher, a nursing student who was severely wounded by bomb explosion at Jerry Shopping center passed away.
A 5-month-old Maranao baby who was hit in his head died while beingtreated at the city hospital.
Col. Benito De Leon, commanding officer of 104th Infantry Brigade,told reporters and the imams that dialogues with communities were being conducted alongside military operations against "rogue elements"of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.
De Leon said that the soldiers were not blaming the Muslim community for the spate of bombings but the "rogue lawless groups."
He said that prior to the bombings there were threats through text messages of retaliation for the military offensives during Ramadhanand for the continued stay of soldiers in Camp Bilal.
But he denied the military conducted operations during the month of fasting, saying many of his soldiers are also Muslims who were performing their religious obligations.
The official added that right after the bombing incidents, he received a text message telling him that what happened was not enough "to awaken the people of Iligan City who opposed the Memorandum ofAgreement on Ancestral Domain."
He said they tried to track down the mobile phone that sent themessages until it went dead.
De Leon stressed that the soldiers will treat "all lawless armed groups like the vigilantes" the way they treat the "rogue MILF groups."
"We have communicated to leaders of vigilante groups that there isonly one AFP and one PNP, and we cannot allow them to take the lawinto their hands," he added.
"In all checkpoints, we will confiscate lose firearms and we will alsosimilarly confiscate the firearms of vigilantes," he assured, adding he has to be firm to restore normalcy.
"This way we cannot make a bigger social divide," he said.
New Iligan city police director Oscar D. Aguda also presented a security assessment.
Aguda said the bombing was intended to create divisions and that the suspects wanted to project themselves before the international community.
He said that since December 22, thirteen suspicious pieces of baggage had been recovered and the last one was a radio transistor left by a couple near Gaisano mall which was defused by water disruption.
"Hopefully, we will be able to regain normal business activity in the city," he said.
Aguda also presented the cartographic sketches of the bombing suspects.
Celso Ponce, chair of Barangay Tambacan, said he will reproduce the sketches for public posting. (Violeta M. Gloria/MindaNews)