In a show of unity and peace, Muslims and non-Muslims came together to celebrate the end of Ramadan, the holy month of fasting in Islam, in Central Mindanao and the Bangsamoro region. Local leaders encouraged the continuation of spiritual solidarity between the two communities during the Eid’l Fit’r congregational prayers held on Wednesday.
Major Gen. Alex Rillera, commander of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division, and Bangsamoro regional police director Brig. Gen. Prexy Tanggawohn, confirmed that the Eid celebrations were peaceful and well-organised, with the support of local government units, including those led by Christian mayors.
Muslim leaders and Islamic theologians in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao and in Region 12 urged their constituents to continue supporting the cultural and religious solidarity programs of their local government units. These programs complement the peace initiatives of President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. and the southern Moro communities.
Lanao del Sur Gov. Mamintal Adiong, Jr., a Maranao with over 100,000 Christian constituents, emphasised the teachings of Islam on religious tolerance and the obligation of every Muslim to live in peace with people of different religions. He encouraged his constituents to be instruments of religious solidarity.
In a show of unity, some Christian local executives distributed food and bottled water at designated Eid’l Fit’r worship sites. Many Christian local government officials, including Mayor Rolly Sacdalan and Evangeline Guzman of Midsayap and Kabacan towns in Cotabato province, collaborated with the military and police to plan security measures for the Eid events.
Muslim officials in the Police Regional Office-Bangsamoro Autonomous Region appreciated the distribution of food and drinks for iftar, the first meal after a day-long fast, during Ramadan by the local government unit of Lamitan City in Basilan. The city’s mayor, Roderick Furigay, a Christian, is the only non-Muslim mayor in BARMM who provides subsidies for clerics managing mosques in all of the 45 barangays under his jurisdiction.
Gov. Hadjiman Salliman, chairperson of the multi-sector Basilan Peace and Order Council, highlighted the importance of religious unity in driving out Abu Sayyaf terrorists from the province. He credited the peace in the province to the unity of the Muslim and Christian communities.
The Eid congregational ceremony at a mosque in Camp Siongco in Datu Odin Sinsuat town in Maguindanao del Norte saw the participation of many erstwhile non-Muslims who have embraced Islam in recent years, including active members of the Philippine National Police and personnel of units of the 6th Infantry Division.
Brig. Gen. Prexy Tanggawohn, who recently assumed the role of police director of BARMM, announced his plans to embark on projects that can help maintain cordiality among the local Muslim, Christian, and non-Moro indigenous communities.