Hataman, Urdaneta exec to meet on Muslim ban
BANGSAMORO NEWS UPDATES • 19:09 PM Thu Aug 11, 2016
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By:
Edwin Fernandez
ARMM Gov. Mujiv Hataman (photo by John Unson/Urdaneta.gov.ph)
COTABATO CITY -– Regional Governor Mujiv Hataman of the Autonomous Region in Muslim
Mindanao (ARMM) and Urdaneta City Mayor Amadeo Gregorio Perez IV are scheduled
to meet personally to settle the issue of alleged discrimination against Muslim
residents in Urdaneta City, Pangasinan.
He called me
up Tuesday night and clarified that he was misquoted by the online news
organization,” Hataman told reporters.
It was Hataman
who first noticed the report and immediately issued condemnation if the report
was true. Hataman was convincing himself
the reported discrimination was not true.
Hataman quoted
Perez as telling him that he was not anti-Muslim and that he was misquoted by
the reporter who had acts to grind against him.”
Perez,
according to Hataman, was very apologetic and assured him he was never an
anti-Moro and will never be.
The ARMM
governor also said that during last Monday’s flag ceremonies the Urdaneta mayor
announced that the anti-drug campaign of the local government will continue
against those involved in prohibited drugs regardless of their political, religious
and personal affiliation.
Perez,
according to Hataman, also told him that Muslims have been part of Urdaneta
City for the past 20 years and part of the city’s economic development. Most Muslims in Urdaneta City were in
commercial business.
Hataman also
offered apologies to the Urdaneta City mayor and volunteered to see Perez in his
office should he is in Luzon.
Both agreed to
sit down and talk in the coming days.On his FB page, Perez acknowledged thatthe
Muslim community has played a pivotal role in the economic development and
social advancement of Urdaneta City. Muslims have been our partners on many developmental programs and projects, he said. I am
grateful of the support given by the leaders of the Muslim community in
Urdaneta City on the issue. I have also talked with the officials of the
National Commission on Muslim Filipinos led by Regional Director Bai Sinab
Maruhom Dimaampo who visited my office and I requested them to share the truth
with their constituents, especially in the social media, he added.