Basilan marks peaceful Eid'l Adha

BASILAN, Philippines — The Eid'l Adha celebration in Basilan on Sunday was peaceful and officials say this was because of cooperation among local officials, religious leaders, the police and military.

Gov. Jim Salliman on Monday thanked the Philippine National Police and the military Western Mindanao Command for the security provided during Eid'l Adha worship activities across Basilan's 11 towns and its two cities, Lamitan and Isabela.

No untoward incidents were reported on Sunday while Muslims in Basilan went out for morning worship to mark their celebration of what is also known as the “Feast of the Sacrifice.”

Muslims also have the yearly Eid’l Fit’r, or culmination of the month-long Ramadan fasting season.

Ramadhan is a holy month in Islam when Muslims fast from dawn to dusk for one lunar cycle, lasting from 28-29 days, as a religious obligation and to learn the value of self-restraint to achieve spiritual perfection.

Brig. Gen. Marni Marcos, director of the Police Regional Office-Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, said the Eid celebrations in other BARMM provinces and in Cotabato City were just as peaceful.

"Besides the mayors and the provincial governors, we also ought to thank the barangay officials in the BARMM and the officials of the Bangsamoro regional government for helping the PRO-BARMM and the military secure thousands of worshipers who went out on Sunday to pray," Marcos said.

Salliman said credit has to go to local government units, to the city police offices in Isabela and Lamitan, to the Basilan provincial police office, and to the 104th Infantry Brigade for working together to ensure the safety of the Eid’l Adha festivities in Basilan on Sunday.

Thousands of Muslims prayed together in the parade ground of the Basilan National High School in Isabela City in an open field while personnel of the Isabela City police and Army servicemen under the 104th Infantry Brigade and barangay officials and community watchmen stayed around to protect them.

Local clerics in Isabela City, among them Bangsamoro parliament member Alzad Sattar, worked along with Mayor Sitti Djalia Turabin-Hataman in seeing through the grand activity.

Salliman said he is also grateful to the province's mayors, the members of the local Islamic religious community and Basilan Ulama Supreme Council who were at the forefront of overseeing the preparations for the Eid'l Adha activities.