President Duterte to speak to the Bishops-Ulama Conference Monday

From the Philippine Information Agency (Sep 16): President Duterte to speak to the Bishops-Ulama Conference Monday

DAVAO CITY -- About 100 persons composed of Catholic bishops, Muslim Ulama, Protestant bishops and pastors will audience with President Rodrigo Duterte in time for the 20th Foundation Anniversary of the Bishops-Ulama Conference and the 44th BUC assembly September 19 at the Mergrande Resort in Davao City.

Davao Archbishop (Emeritus) Fernando Capalla, DD, chair of the BUC said among the invited guests are former Presidents Fidel V. Ramos, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, Cebu Archbishop (Emeritus) Ricardo Cardinal Vidal, officials of the cabinet, police and military.

He recalled that it was in Ramos Administration when the BUC was first conceptualized and supported with its peace advocacies.

Capalla said Cardinal Vidal hosted the BUC’s inaugural ceremony while President Arroyo supported the organization morally and financially for nine years.

“Perhaps, it is the reason why the Aquino Administration ignored the BUC’s role in peace-making for six years due to the support it received from his predecessors,” he said.

Capalla said he will propose to the president to make its multiple chaplaincy in governance spread throughout the country.

He said it is only in Davao where formal ceremonies are preceded with ecumenical prayer by a priest, a pastor and an Imam.

“I will propose to the president to make the practice nationwide,” Capalla said.

Aleem Mahmod Mala Adilao, chair of the Ulama League of the Philippines, Eastern Mindanao lauded the Duterte Administration for the ongoing peace talks with the Communist Party of the Philippines, National Democratic Front and the New People’s Army and the ongoing convergence of peace agreements with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and the Moro National liberation Front.

“It is great that the peace narrative is being pursued by the Duterte Administration in all fronts,” he said.

http://news.pia.gov.ph/article/view/2381474000449/president-duterte-to-speak-to-the-bishops-ulama-conference-monday