Taguig Muslims rally for Mindanao peace

More than 1,000 Muslim residents in Taguig City yesterday held a prayer rally that called for peace in Mindanao.

Casim Candido, convenor of the Bangsamoro People’s Solidarity for Peace, said the activity is meant to show their clamor for cessation of hostilities in Mindanao, through unity and prayers.

“The ongoing fighting in Mindanao between the Muslim rebels and government troops is already alarming. Through prayers, we are hopeful that peace will soon prevail as we don’t want more lives to get wasted because of this,” Candido said.

The prayer held inside the Blue Mosque in Maharlika Village, was participated by other Muslim groups from Tandang Sora in Quezon City, Baseco and Quiapo in Manila, Caloocan and Montalban. It started at 12 noon and lasted for about an hour.

The Muslim leader said the religious activity is also in preparation for their observance of the Ramadan that will start on Sept. 1.

“We also included in our prayers our Muslim brothers that have become victims of eviction here in Taguig City,” he said.

More than 40 policemen proceeded to the area to secure the venue.

Superintendent Alfred Sotto Corpus said these policemen were deployed to monitor the area and check untoward incidents while the activity is ongoing.

Meanwhile, Southern Police District director Chief Superintendent Luizo Ticman said they made proper coordination with Muslim community leaders in Metro Manila as to the security arrangement at the site.

Earlier, Mayor Sigfrido Tiñga appealed to Muslim residents in the city to be vigilant and be wary of elements that might just want to disrupt their peaceful assembly.