Moro leaders in General Santos City aired the sentiments of the Muslim constituents during the peace forum with the city officials stressing that peace will be realized “when there is justice, equity and no discrimination against the Muslims.”
The Peace Forum held at Venue 88 Convention Hall in this city on October 10, 2013, was attended by Moro leaders, City Councilor Jeng Cagal, City Administrator Atty. Arnel Zapatos, and City Police Director Senior Superintendent Froilan Quidilla provided a venue to discuss on how cooperation with Muslim communities will strengthen peace in town.
“We, the Muslim, are natives in this town, yet we seem to be treated like second class citizens,” Esmael Mutalib, Chairman of the Sulu, Basilan, Tawi-tawi Association in Gensan (SUBATAGEN), lamented.
He said Muslims in the city are left behind in terms of social, political and economic development.
“People here seem to forget that Gensan is part of Moroland. We have been here in our homeland since time immemorial but we’re treated like strangers,” Mutalib, also a prominent Tausog leader, further lamented.
Mutalib related the difficulty for Muslim job seekers to get hired in private companies due to discrimination. “Our job applicants are told ‘tatawagan ka lang namin (we will just call you up)’ but that is it, their applications are trashed,” he explained.
He also noted that some hospitals refuse to release cadavers of hospitalized Muslim until bills are settled. “We hope the city government can look into this because Muslims must be buried within 24 hours,” he explained.
Mutalib also said that there are Muslims who are disapproved by lending firms or appliance stores to avail their products.
Datu Alimudin Hassan, Raja Muda of Sugoda Buayan, noted that Muslims in the city are participative in activities inclined to peace. He said that the Muslims want harmonious relationship with the Christian Settlers and Indigenous People (Blaan).
Professor Isnira Baginda from Mindanao State University disclosed the insensitivity of some police or security personnel in establishments while checking customers’ belongings using bomb-sniffing dogs.
“Our bags or clothes should not be touched nor sniffed by dogs which Muslims consider dirty like swine,” she explained. “The inspection should be done manually,” she suggested.
She also asked if the city government can do something to persuade mall owners to put up Musallah “prayer area” for Muslim shoppers.
Gacal responded that they will look into the possibility of coming up with an ordinance that will address discrimination.
He announced that the City Council has already deliberated in their session the restructuring of the Office on Cultural Communities Affairs, an institution under the Office of the City mayor that will handle concerns of the Muslims.
The city councilor suggested for another forum specifically to discuss issues and concerns of the Muslims.
Zapatos said there will be programs for the Muslim communities through the said office.
He thanked the Muslim leaders for their support to peace. “We always look forward for your participation in peace dialogues,” he added.
Police Community Relations Group Director Chief Superintendent Sonny David, Chief of the Police Community Relations, also graced the affair.
He said “Respect and understanding are key to peace” and added that the national headquarter will back up the maintenance of good relationship among the people.
Quidilla enjoined Baginda to be the resource person for orientation of his policemen on cultural sensitivity.
There are reports that some Muslim job applicants changed Islam as their religion to other Christian denominations in their resume and use Christian when applying for work in malls.
http://www.luwaran.com/index.php/welcome/item/615-moro-leaders-air-sentiments-to-lgu-gensan-in-a-peace-forum
“We, the Muslim, are natives in this town, yet we seem to be treated like second class citizens,” Esmael Mutalib, Chairman of the Sulu, Basilan, Tawi-tawi Association in Gensan (SUBATAGEN), lamented.
He said Muslims in the city are left behind in terms of social, political and economic development.
“People here seem to forget that Gensan is part of Moroland. We have been here in our homeland since time immemorial but we’re treated like strangers,” Mutalib, also a prominent Tausog leader, further lamented.
Mutalib related the difficulty for Muslim job seekers to get hired in private companies due to discrimination. “Our job applicants are told ‘tatawagan ka lang namin (we will just call you up)’ but that is it, their applications are trashed,” he explained.
He also noted that some hospitals refuse to release cadavers of hospitalized Muslim until bills are settled. “We hope the city government can look into this because Muslims must be buried within 24 hours,” he explained.
Mutalib also said that there are Muslims who are disapproved by lending firms or appliance stores to avail their products.
Datu Alimudin Hassan, Raja Muda of Sugoda Buayan, noted that Muslims in the city are participative in activities inclined to peace. He said that the Muslims want harmonious relationship with the Christian Settlers and Indigenous People (Blaan).
Professor Isnira Baginda from Mindanao State University disclosed the insensitivity of some police or security personnel in establishments while checking customers’ belongings using bomb-sniffing dogs.
“Our bags or clothes should not be touched nor sniffed by dogs which Muslims consider dirty like swine,” she explained. “The inspection should be done manually,” she suggested.
She also asked if the city government can do something to persuade mall owners to put up Musallah “prayer area” for Muslim shoppers.
Gacal responded that they will look into the possibility of coming up with an ordinance that will address discrimination.
He announced that the City Council has already deliberated in their session the restructuring of the Office on Cultural Communities Affairs, an institution under the Office of the City mayor that will handle concerns of the Muslims.
The city councilor suggested for another forum specifically to discuss issues and concerns of the Muslims.
Zapatos said there will be programs for the Muslim communities through the said office.
He thanked the Muslim leaders for their support to peace. “We always look forward for your participation in peace dialogues,” he added.
Police Community Relations Group Director Chief Superintendent Sonny David, Chief of the Police Community Relations, also graced the affair.
He said “Respect and understanding are key to peace” and added that the national headquarter will back up the maintenance of good relationship among the people.
Quidilla enjoined Baginda to be the resource person for orientation of his policemen on cultural sensitivity.
There are reports that some Muslim job applicants changed Islam as their religion to other Christian denominations in their resume and use Christian when applying for work in malls.
http://www.luwaran.com/index.php/welcome/item/615-moro-leaders-air-sentiments-to-lgu-gensan-in-a-peace-forum
