‘Muslims not targets in terror drive’

Presidential Spokesman Ignacio Bunye yesterday denied accusations that a crackdown on suspected Islamic extremists plotting terror attacks amounted to a campaign against the country’s Muslim minority.

"There is no politics or ethno-religious discrimination in the government’s anti-terrorism drive," Bunye said, adding that the recent arrests of Muslims in Manila’s suburbs were "based on the information that was gathered by the intelligence community."

"We believe that this is based on solid information," he said.

Security forces have arrested at least six Muslims in Metro Manila in recent days in what the President said was a move to prevent "Madrid-level" bombing attacks by the notorious Abu Sayyaf extremist group, which has been linked to the Jemaah Islamiyah and al-Qaeda terrorist groups by both Manila and Washington.

However, some opposition Muslim groups and relatives of the suspects insist that the arrested Muslims are innocent and that they were forced to confess to involvement in the alleged bombing plot.

Opposition members have also charged that the crackdown is intended to boost Mrs. Arroyo’s image for the May 10 presidential elections, in which she is seeking a full six-year term.

Bunye said the charges against the government would be addressed "at the proper forum," adding that the accusations would not stop the authorities from carrying out their mission.

"We have always considered the anti-terror campaign a responsibility for both Muslims and Christians," he added.

"We shall not fall into the hands of extremists who want to use the alleged oppression of Muslims to justify lawless violence," Bunye said.

"The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) have always conducted themselves professionally and without bias in targeting terrorist cells," he added.

The President has challenged her critics and the political opposition to raise before the courts their legal questions regarding the arrests of suspected Abu Sayyaf bandits.

"As far as I am concerned, the apprehension of these suspected terrorists is a product of dilligence and hard work on the part of the police and the military, which deserves full commendation and praise," she said. "Questions raised over the legitimacy for the arrests can be fully addressed in the courts," the President said.

She also lashed out at claims by opposition members that hr administration is foisting these terrorist threats on the public to pave the way for a no-election or "no-el" plot.

"Terrorism is a crime against all humanity and there are no political or religious undertones to the anti-terror campaign," the President said.

‘No To Discrimination’

Meanwhile, Sen. Robert Barbers asked the government to provide equal protection to the arrested suspected members of the Abu Sayyaf to ensure that they are not made the subject of religious discrimination.

Barbers said the arrested suspects must be given the full protection of the law until they are proven guilty. He issued the call in the wake of complaints from Islamic groups that are planning to stage protest actions against the arrests.

"The government must avert this incident and convince our Muslim brothers that the human rights of these people will be observed and (the suspects) must be given lawyers to defend them to douse speculations of perceived discriminatory actions against Muslim (Filipinos)," he said.

"I am sure that Filipino Christians and Muslims are one in fighting terrorism in our country," he said as he appealed to Muslim leaders and ulamas to convince the Muslim community to remain calm and be wary of unscrupulous people who may use them for political ends.

"We must not disagree on this front, because it will only be the Abu Sayyaf who will benefit from this squabble," Barbers said.

Actor Robin Padilla, who converted to Islam, joined his brothers in the faith in condemning the arrests, adding that one of his close friends was mistakenly tagged as a member of the Abu Sayyaf.

The Philippines is predominantly Christian, with Roman Catholics making up the largest Christian denomination, while about seven percent of the population is Muslim. Most Muslims live in Mindanao, where armed Muslim separatist campaigns have been waged for over three decades. — Marichu Villanueva, Jose Rodel Clapano, AFP