PREVENTING VIOLENT EXTREMISM. National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF) Secretary Saidamen Pangarungan (standing on the podium) speaks before participants of the Youth General Assembly and Interfaith Dialogue on Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism held at the Waterfront Hotel in Lahug, Cebu City, March 14, 2019. (Photo by John Rey Saavedra)
CEBU CITY — The head of the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF) on Thursday said dialogue among the faithful of diverse religions and tapping the youth’s potentials are crucial in solving violent extremism in the country.
NCMF Secretary Saidamen Pangarungan, told the participants of the youth assembly on extremism held here that “an effective way to bring peace and understanding is through interfaith dialogue”.
“We are a people of diverse faith but we all believe in one God. We all believe in common humanity,” Pangarungan said in his message during the Youth General Assembly and Interfaith Dialogue on Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism held at the Waterfront Hotel, this city.
Msgr. Vicente Rey Penagunda, rector of the Seminario Mayor de San Carlos and vicar general of the Archdiocese of Cebu, assured the participants of the Roman Catholic’s solidarity in solving violent extremism.
In finding solution to violence brought by extremism, Pangarungan said that “we cannot let anyone person or any faith to be excluded,” stressing that “we all have a say in what peace is”.
Pangarungan said the youth is an “indispensable component in peace-building,” stressing the need to know their sentiments as “one of the biggest and boldest demographic of Muslim Filipinos.”
According to him, the youth has been very active in taking up national issues, especially those that affect them.
The “drive and unlimited energy” of the youth to pursue the passions should be taken advantage of in tapping them in the campaign against violent extremism, he said.
“We would like to take advantage of this famed drive (of the youth) by making sure that peace-building is one of their passions,” he stressed.
Pangarungan recalled the siege in Marawi. He said the city “should be the first and last victim of violent extremism in the Philippines. The NCMF has made such “vow” as one of its “self-imposed goals” as government office taking care of Muslim Filipinos, he said.
Col. Niceforo Diaz Jr., assistant chief of operations of Central Command, stressed in his lecture the need for a campaign that “involves appreciation of policies, security environment, specific challenges on violent extremism and approaches to preventing and countering violent extremism.”
Diaz also emphasized the need to address socio-cultural and economic concerns in areas where the populace is exposed to violent extremism.
The Army official, however, assured the assembly participants that the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is addressing different threat groups.
He said the AFP is also actively supporting development in all levels of the Philippine society.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1064585
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