Maguindanao security council secure venues of Easter celebration

MAGUINDANAO --- The predominantly Muslim provincial peace and order council (PPOC) on Saturday urged authorities to secure Christian worship sites to ensure a safe Easter celebration on Sunday.Maguindanao Gov. Esmael Mangudadatu said he has ordered Senior Superintendent Agustin Tello of the provincial police to deploy enough policemen in surroundings of churches in the province on Sunday.Mangudadatu is the presiding chairman of the multi-sectoral, inter-agency Maguindanao PPOC.Maguindanao covers 36 towns, seven of them --- Parang, Sultan Kudarat, Datu Odin Sinsuat, Datu Piang, Shariff Aguak, Ampatuan and Montawal --- with Ilocano, Ilonggo and Cebuano settlers. This is to ensure the protection of our Christian constituents on Easter Sunday as we do during their annual Yuletide Season, Mangudadatu said.Mangudadatu said his administration is keen on promoting cultural and religious solidarity among Maguindanao’s Muslim, Christian and Lumad communities. Nowhere in the Qur’an and in the traditions of Prophet Mohammad can one find an insinuation to hate, persecute non-Muslims. Only misguided extremists do that. They circumvent the teachings to suit their vested interests, Mangudadatu said.He said Islam has very strong teachings on respect for other religions, non-Islamic worship sites and non-Muslim religious leaders. One of the primary teachings in Islam is that there must be no compulsion in religion, Mangudadatu added.Mangudadatu said he has also requested the commander of the Army’s 6thInfantry Division, Major Gen. Arnel Dela Vega, to augment policemen tasked to secure Christian worship sites with soldiers assigned in Maguindanao towns where there are Christian residents.