In Central Mindanao, peaceful Eid’l Fitr celebration

MAGUINDANAO, Philippines  – No untoward incident was reported in Central Mindanao during the celebration of the Islamic holiday of Eid’l Fitr yesterday.

It marked the end of the 29-day Ramadan fasting and the start of the month of Shawwal in the Islamic Hejira calendar.

Soldiers and policemen guarded sites for the open-field prayers to prevent saboteurs from getting  close.

Brig. Gen. Edmundo Pangilinan, Army 6th Infantry Division commander, said the celebration of Eid in the provinces of Maguindanao, North Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat and Lanao del Sur was generally peaceful.

“Credit should go to the Islamic religious communities and the local government units in these provinces,” he said.

Pangilinan tendered for 6th ID’s Muslim soldiers and their dependents an Eid banquet at the division’s mosque adjacent to Camp Siongco in Datu Odin Sinsuat town in Maguindanao. 

The merry-making was preceded by an outdoor prayer led by Capt. Mujiv Ladjabuan, the 6th ID’s imam.

In a message to 6th ID’s Muslim soldiers, Pangilinan said the division has a strong advocacy for Muslim-Christian solidarity in support of the Mindanao peace process.

“We want our soldiers to be loyal to their religions, obedient to divine laws pertaining to peace and co-existence, while they exemplify loyalty and dedication to government service,” he said.

Chief Superintendent Noel delos Reyes, Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao police director, said the region was peaceful and thousands gathered in different sites for the Eid prayers.

Pangilinan and Delos Reyes lauded the ceasefire committee of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) for helping in their security efforts.

In a statement, Armed Forces Western Mindanao Command chief Lt. Gen. Rustico Guerrero said the region’s Muslim, Christian and indigenous non-Moro communities must keep trusting the peace panels of the government and the MILF in their efforts to establish “genuine peace” in Moro-dominated areas.

“The Western Mindanao Command wants lasting peace in Mindanao and calls on the local communities to sustain the gains of the peace process by helping foster political stability and reconciliation among all people,” Guerrero said.

ARMM police officials sealed on Sunday the muzzles of service firearms of policemen to ensure they would not fire them in the Eid’l Fitr revelry.

Speaking to reporters, Delos Reyes said his subordinates told him the muzzles were sealed with masking tape.

“Any policemen caught firing a gun during the traditional merry-making in connection with the  event shall be discharged from the service,” he said.

Delos Reyes called on civilian gun owners to avoid using their guns to greet the Eid.

Malacañang has declared today a non-working holiday. Today is the 30th day since the start of Ramadan on June 29.

The government and the MILF peace panels are taking a break in their discussions on the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law in observance of Eid’l Fitr.

Chief government negotiator Miriam Coronel-Ferrer said the two panels will convene immediately after the holiday.

“The government and the MILF are both committed to continue the work until the draft Bangsamoro Basic Law is finished so that it will be submitted to the Office of the President at the soonest possible time,” she said. Ferrer said the government and the MILF peace panels have so far made good progress and worked closely with the Bangsamoro Transition Commission to bridge differences in the draft bill.

“We met over the weekend and made progress on two important articles pertaining to fiscal autonomy and the structure of the Bangsamoro government,” she said.

The two panels took to heart the request of President   Aquino during a meeting with the BTC to work together and bridge differences in the draft law, Ferrer said.