Monday, August 19, 2019

Muslims join police in keeping Baguio safe

From the Philippine Information Agency (Aug 19, 2019): Muslims join police in keeping Baguio safe 

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BAGUIO CITY -- Members of the Muslim community in Baguio City have joined efforts with the police in ensuring safety in the city amid unconfirmed terrorist threats.

“The Muslim community will stand as one with the Christians and other religious sectors and the people of Baguio City amid the unconfirmed reports on terroristic attacks in the different parts of Luzon,”
Imam Samsodin Monib said in his message during the Sunday mass.



Members of the Muslim community in Baguio City led by Imam Samsodin Monib and Imam Joel Omar with the Christian community particularly the Catholic faithful together with members of the Baguio City Police Office stood as guards at the Baguio Cathedral to show concern for the Catholic faithful amid an alleged Islamic State-linked terror threat on cities and places of worship in Northern Luzon on Sunday despite the inclement weather. RMC PIA-CAR

Imam Monib, who was given a chance to speak in front of the church goers inside the Baguio Cathedral, stressed that the Muslim community will stand guard to safeguard their fellow residents and ensure a peaceful and orderly city. He explained that the Muslim community is doing this amid an alleged Islamic State-linked terror threat on cities and places of worship in Northern Luzon.

He said that as Muslims, they only want to live peacefully with their fellow Christians and they are against and even condemn threats of violence.

Together with members of the police force stood as guards at the Baguio Cathedral to show concern for the Catholic faithful during the Sunday mass.

Samsodin said that their fellow Muslim will be joining members of the Baguio City Police Office to patrol churches and stand guard despite the inclement weather. 


Imam Samsodin Monib speaking in a pulpit at the Baguio Cathedral during the Sunday Mass. RMC PIA-CAR

Muslims also took chance to give roses to the Catholic faithful during the Sunday mass as a symbol of their unity and cooperation to ensure that the people of Baguio are safe from any acts of violence.

Mayor Benjamin Magalong said that although the reports on terrorism threats are not yet confirmed, the city government with the police force and the residents should not be complacent.

"What is important is that we should raise awareness among our people in the City of Baguio. That is the reason why we are here in front of you, and I am really very glad that in their own initiative, our Muslim brothers and sisters volunteered to come over and show a sense of solidarity, a sense of unity with their Christian brothers and sisters. They volunteered to protect us, Catholics and Christians, in the same manner that a group of Catholics and Christians also would like to reciprocate their efforts," Magalong said in front of the church goers.



Last week, an alert memo the Northern Luzon Command of the Armed Forces of the Philippines gave reference to a basic intelligence leak with the corresponding command guidance containing information it received on August 2, 2019 of "Crusader City" with business centers and "Crusader Churches" in northern Luzon as target of terror attacks.

The alert memo indicated but was not limited to Laoag City, Vigan City, Manaoag in Pangasinan, and Tugueggarao City as the possible target areas of the terror threats. (JDP/RMC –PIA CAR)

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