LGUs should lead fight to end terrorism –DILG-ARMM official

From the Philippine Information Agency (May 19): LGUs should lead fight to end terrorism –DILG-ARMM official

Local governments should play major role in the combat against terror threats, an official of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao said Wednesday.

“The LGUs must be at the forefront in the battle against terrorism,” said Secretary Noor Hafizullah “Kirby” Abdullah of DILG- ARMM, stressing the crucial role of local executives and Islamic scholars or the Ulama in the fight against criminal activities..

To further strengthen the fight against terrorism, Secretary Abdullah said  the 116 municipalities and two cities in the region will soon conduct a summit on terrorism and illegal drugs to prevent and combat the rising threat of terrorism and as well as to enhance the role of LGUs in promoting peace and security.

“In any place, if there is an absence of governance, the terrorists will provide the needs of the people. So the LGUs play a vital role in this battle because they are being mandated by our laws to protect their constituents against the act of terrorism including illegal drugs,” he said, emphasizing further that he localized summit would synchronize measures on how to curb criminality, terrorism and illegal drugs, which pose a challenge to the peace and security in the region.

“The summit will help confront terrorism and extremism at the municipal level. If the local government will not spearhead, will not be at the forefront in this battle, this terrorist activity will continue to go stronger and stronger and become uncontrollable,” he said.

Based on the report of DILG-ARMM, the decision to enlist the active involvement of LGUs in the relentless campaign following the threat against Ulamas who attended the 3-day Summit Against Terrorism held here recently by a terror group Dawla Islamiya, which has pledged allegiance to the Islamic State.

The three-day Ulama Summit Against Terrorism is an initial step of the ARMM government to enlist the support of Islamic scholars to combat terrorism.

Citing the importance of collaboration, the official reiterated the vital role of the Islamic scholars

“Basically the ISIS are using the religion of Islam as their point of recruitment. So the Ulama has a vital role in combating this act. Because these terrorists are somehow interpreting the Qu’ran in an extreme way, they are teaching hate, they are propagating hate when in fact the basis of Islam is peace so the role of Ulamas during the conduct of Friday prayer or in Madrasahs they will inculcate in the minds of the children, the illiterate on what is the true essence of Islam and that is peace,“ he said

Close coordination, mutual support, and cooperation according to Secretary Abdullah can help put an end to terrorism

“I can see that the LGUs in the region are very active in this fight in order to have peaceful and progressive communities. Liliit ang mundo ng mga terroristang grupo if they will see that everyone is helping one another to fight terror acts.” he added.

http://news.pia.gov.ph/article/view/1661495175578/lgus-should-lead-fight-to-end-terrorism-dilg-armm-official