ZAMBOANGA CITY (Mindanao Examiner / May 20, 2012) – The National Commission on Muslim Filipinos have reminded travel agencies and airline companies that whatever ticket discounts it would give to Muslims for their annual hajj to Saudi Arabia must go directly to pilgrims.
NCMF Secretary Mehol Sadain is also appointed by President Benigno Aquino as “ammirul hajj” or head of the Philippine Hajj Mission this year.
“The National Commission on Muslim Filipinos will not receive any share from the pilgrims’ money that is paid to you. The hard-earned money of the pilgrims paid for tickets to and from Makka and Madina for the Haj pilgrimage is theirs.”
“If the travel agencies and airline companies want to give discounts, these discounts should go to the pilgrims and benefit them, because that is what is right and legal. The Office of the Secretary, NCMF will appreciate reports that violate this policy,” Sadain said.
Sadain, who is a lawyer by profession, was an elections commissioner before he was appointed last month by Aquino to head the NCMF, which was created only in 2010 to advise the President in the formulation, coordination, implementation, and monitoring of policies, plans, programs and projects affecting the Muslim communities. (Mindanao Examiner)
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