COTABATO CITY – Governor Mujiv Hataman of the Muslim autonomous region in Mindanao condemned the reported prejudiced against fellow Muslims in Pangasinan’s Urdaneta City following reports that Mayor Amadeo Perez IV allegedly ordered their eviction.
The August 8 report, written by Jaime Aquino, was published by The Manila Times and this drew various reactions from Muslims in the Philippines.
“We would like to believe that this isn’t true, because this is nothing, but discrimination. In this day and age, it is unthinkable that there are local government officials who would rather take action based on prejudice instead of evidence, and would blindly uproot families from their homes rather than address the root of criminality itself.”
“We strongly condemn mindless acts that are clearly prejudiced against our Muslim brothers and sisters, especially when these violate their constitutionally protected and fundamental human rights, including their right to life and liberty, to be secure in their persons, and to freely practice their religion as Filipinos of faith,” Hataman said.
The news report also mentioned that the Sangguniang Panlungsod has been requested to enact an urgent ordinance stopping the entry of Muslims in Urdaneta after some of them had been linked to illegal drugs.
“We understand that the government is working hard at every level and is doing everything that is necessary to rid the country of the drug problem, but this does not give any official the license to abuse his authority and go beyond the rule of law, not to mention the bounds of reason and common sense, especially when it leads to human rights violations,” Hataman said.
He invited local government officials of Urdaneta for a dialogue and said this will be coordinated with the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos to ensure that Muslims will not be treated like criminals simply because of their faith, and that they will not be treated unfairly at any point during the course of the national and local government’s campaign against illegal drugs.
“From here on, should there be any other report of similar incidents during the conduct of the ongoing anti-illegal drug campaign; we call on all Muslim leaders to express their dissent when the rights of our brothers and sisters are violated and to stand together with the people in the face of oppression.”
“Here in the ARMM, the regional government safeguards the rights of every Filipino regardless of his affiliation, religious or otherwise. This is done with full knowledge of the state’s responsibility as the primary duty bearer when it comes to the fulfillment of human rights, especially when it comes to the rights of the marginalized. We expect no less from our fellow leaders who were elected and took the same oath of office that we in Muslim Mindanao took -one that binds us in service of every Filipino,” Hataman said.
Perez has strongly denied the news reports and said he was never interviewed by Aquino, adding he has consulted his lawyers and studying legal options against the writer and The Manila Times.
In the latest news article by The Manila, Aquino reported that Perez allegedly backtracked from his earlier order evicting all Muslims from Urdaneta and instead said his order covered only 10 drug-affected villages.
It said Perez’ turnaround came during a meeting with Rep. Makmod Mending Jr. of Anak Mindanao party-list. The mayor allegedly told Mending that his standing order was only for residents in a Muslim compound in Camantiles village that sits on a lot owned by the Perez family. (Moh Saaduddin)
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