Cardinal's Christmas wish: Peace in Mindanao

COTABATO CITY, Philippines — Orlando Cardinal Quevedo on Christmas Day urged Southern Mindanao's Catholic communities to keep praying for tranquility in troubled areas in the region.

Quevedo, concurrent archbishop of the Cotabato Diocese, also called on Catholics to pray for the success of the government's Mindanao peace process, which aims to foster peace inclusively encompassing Muslims, non-Muslims and lumad communities. 

In a statement, Quevedo, who belong to the Oblates of Mary Immaculate congregation, said his Christmas prayers include supplications for government to succeed in its campaign against criminality and terrorism.

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He said he is also praying for government's speedy implementation of anti-flood projects in areas along the so-called Mindanao River Basin, which spreads through low-lying areas in Central Mindanao.

The river basin refers to the vast catchment areas in the region which collects floodwater from main rivers in surrounding provinces, before draining into the Moro Gulf in west of Cotabato City.

He said religions should neither separate people in Mindanao, nor set permanent barriers among them.

Quevedo has long been involved in various peace-building programs meant to foster religious solidarity among Mindanao's Muslim, Christian and lumad sectors.