Christian soldiers serve Muslims snacks after Eid prayers

MAGUINDANAO, Philippines — The 2018 Eid’l Fitr was the fourth where Muslims in central Mindanao prayed in the Army’s Camp Siongco and were served with food prepared by Christian soldiers who celebrated the event with them.

The celebration of the Eid’l Fitr on Friday marked the culmination of the Islamic Ramadan fasting season, which lasts for one lunar cycle, or about 28 to 29 days, where Muslims fast from dawn to dusk as a religious obligation and reparation for wrongdoings.

The Camp Siongco, located in Datu Odin Sinsuat town in Maguindanao, is the command center of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division, actively involved in peace-building programs complementing Malacañang’s Mindanao peace process.

The national government’s diplomatic overture with southern Muslim sectors is meant to resolve the now five-decade Moro secessionist issue.

Clerics who led the worship rites in Camp Siongco and in other designated areas for group prayers outside appealed for support to the peace process between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.

The government and the MILF have been struggling to put a negotiated closure since January 1997 to the Moro problem hounding the southern Mindanao region since the late 1960s.

Gen. Cirilito Sobejana of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division said he is thankful to the Islamic theologians who helped organize the Eid prayer rite inside Camp Siongco on Friday, the fourth since 2014.

The 6th ID, which is under the Western Mindanao Command, started hosting the yearly Eid outdoor prayers in Camp Siongco during the time of its commander then, the now retired Gen. Edmundo Pangilinan.

Pangilinan’s successors, Generals Carlito Galvez Jr. and Arnel Dela Vega, sustained his Eid program, meant to boost cordiality among local Muslim communities and the 6th ID.

“The activity we hosted today was part of 6th ID’s effort to build unity among Muslims and Christians in this part of the country,” Sobejana said Friday.

Galvez is now chief of staff of the Armed Forces. Dela Vega got to the helm of WestMincom last month after serving as 6th ID commander for more than a year.

The Friday Eid outdoor worship rite at Camp Siongco was facilitated by Lt. Col, Markton Abo and Captain Arvin Encinas, civil relations chief and public affairs officer of 6th ID, respectively.

Among those who prayed at the parade ground of Camp Siongco were Moro datus from nearby towns, members of the Islamic religious communities, teachers and local merchants helping push the Mindanao peace process forward.