Faith talks ease tension

Peace for now Soldiers escort a hearse during the funeral procession of a victim killed in the 27 January cathedral bombing in Jolo, Sulu. Investigators point to a group tied to notorious Islamists Abu Sayyaf as the prime suspect. AFP

Authorities have taken efforts to defuse the possible eruption of a “religious war” in Mindanao following explosions at the Jolo cathedral and Zamboanga City mosque recently that killed 23 people and wounded more than 100 others.

Both police and local government officials in Zamboanga City immediately communicated with religious leaders to avoid tension.

Chief Supt. Emmanuel Luis Licup, director of the Zamboanga Peninsula Police, said the local police and Zamboanga City Mayor Isabel Climaco have started dialogues with religious groups in the city.

“We have ordered all our provincial directors to get in touch with other faith-based groups and in fact yesterday (Wednesday) all of our provincial offices have conducted their own and in the city it was led by no less than the mayor herself,” Licup said.

The Chinese Embassy in Manila donated 5 million renminbi (about P38.9 million) to victims of the recent terror attack in Jolo, Sulu, Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. said.

In a tweet on his official account, Locsin thanked Ambassador Zhao Jianhua for the assistance, noting that “a friend in our grief is a friend indeed.”

Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi earlier had extended his condolences to the government in a letter sent to Locsin and reaffirmed Beijing’s resolve against all forms of terrorism.

“I was shocked to learn that severe bombings happened in the Sulu province of the Philippines. I strongly condemn this attack and would like to extend my deepest condolences to the victims,” the Chinese top envoy said.

He stressed that Beijing “stands ready to strengthen cooperation” with the Philippines in combating terrorism and safeguarding international and regional peace and stability.

Piecing puzzle Soldiers comb the front area of the Our Lady of Mount Carmel Cathedral in Jolo after last Sunday’s twin bombings. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO Suspects tracked

“So just to defuse the tension… we don’t want this to escalate into something we don’t want like atrocities between faith groups,” he added. Climaco and Licup called for sobriety and calmness.

Licup stressed that in-depth police investigations are still ongoing to determine the motive and the perpetrators of the grenade explosion at a mosque in Barangay Talon-Talon on Wednesday.

“So far, we have two persons of interest and we have leads on how to identify them. We cannot just share to you the operational details,” Licup said.

“We also get support from the AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines), other government agencies. The intelligence community is very busy in gathering leads,” he added.

The AFP-Eastern Mindanao Command (Eastmincom) started implementing the “no backpack” policy on churchgoers, reinforcing the order of Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte and call of Bishop Romulo Valles of the Archdiocese of Davao for more proactive measures to ensure security.

Maj. Gen. Felimon Santos Jr., Eastmincom commander, said the command will impose the policy without exception.

In September 2016, Davao City was also hit by a bomb attack that killed more than a dozen people while about 70 others were wounded.

“The security of everyone matters. We must, however, be gender- and culturally sensitive.

Always be reminded to adhere to the principles we have set in the implementation of martial law, which are rule of law, necessity, proportionality and respect for human rights,” Santos said.

The twin bombings are not expected to affect the voters’ turnout for the second plebiscite for the ratification of Republic Act 11054, otherwise known as the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL), scheduled next week.

At a Palace press briefing, Chief Presidential Legal Counsel and presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo addressed the apprehension of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) following the twin bombings in Jolo and the mosque explosion in Zamboanga City.

“Yes, definitely. We are confident (that the bombings will not affect the voters),” Panelo said.

“You must remember that the plebiscite was overwhelming in participation – 85 percent.”

“It’s only the Armed Forces of the Philippines that can say whether it will affect (the voters) or not. Because it’s the one that secures the area,” he added.

While there could be heightened anxiety among locals, he said this won’t stop the peace-loving citizens to vote affirmatively on the passage of the BOL.

“Filipinos cannot be cowed by terrorist acts. We always manage to stand up in times of distress,” Panelo added.

For the Palace official, what the Comelec is saying are mere speculations and devoid of understanding of what’s truly happening on-ground.

The election body will conduct a plebiscite on 6 February, Wednesday, in the province of Lanao del Norte (except Iligan City) and the municipalities of Aleosan, Carmen, Kabacan, Midsayap, Pikit, Pigkawayan and Tulunan, all in the province of North Cotabato.