SULU – Philippine military chief Gilbert Gapay flew to the Muslim province of Sulu and met with government officials and religious leaders in a peace dialogue held in the Capitol.
Gapay was previously criticized by Muslim leaders after saying in October that they are monitoring madaris and other schools in Sulu where “some sort of radicalization activities are going on.”
Aside from madaris, he said terrorist groups are also recruiting on
social media.
“One of the media or vehicles they are using is the social media. We
have found out from some of those who surrendered and captured that quite a
number of them have been recruited and radicalized through social media,” Gapay
said, adding, this could be the reason why Filipino Abu Sayyaf militant Norman
Lasuca blew himself up near a military base in Sulu’s Indanan town in June last
year.
“We cannot imagine a Filipino really being recruited or being used as a
suicide bomber. Usually, we expect that that suicide bombers would be foreign
terrorists that have slipped here in our country, but we were really surprised
when we had that first incident in 2019 in the person of Mr. Lasuca. It was
really an eye opener for us that the effort to recruit, to radicalize, and even
mold the suicide bomber out of Filipinos is really at that level,” he added.
Governor Sakur Tan branded Gapay’s statement as preposterous that madaris or
Islamic schools in the province are suspected of radicalizing students.
Gapay’s statement also drew criticisms from other
Muslim groups. “I join the many Muslim voices, to include that of
(Basilan Rep. Mujiv S. Hataman, on the Madrasa issue. I do agree that to have
come from no less than the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the
Philippines, saying that Islamic Schools in the country can be possible hotbeds
of terrorism or to link Madrasa to terrorism, is both absurd and uncalled for,”
Tan said.
He added: “Indeed such statements
coming from a supposedly high and responsible officer of the Armed Forces, is
not one we expect from a respectable officer and a gentleman. We are certain
that the good General has no ill intent.”
The influential governor said
during this time when the country is dealing with the coronavirus pandemic, it
is incumbent on everyone to be prudent and avoid tearing the threads of wounds
that are yet to heal.
“I cannot blame Muslims if they
harbor resentment and disappointment that the specter of profiling and
typecasting of people based on their faith, still lingers in the midst. To put
in question an institution where most, if not all Muslim children, had their
first foundation of good morals based on Islam as a religion of peace, is to infer
that Muslims in their primal are already branded unkindly,” he said.
Tan urged Gapay to retract his
statement. “I join the various groups and individuals, in calling on General
Gapay - with respect as Muslims are taught to be at an early age - to withdraw
or retract his statement in reference to the Madrasa issue. Let us allow
sobriety and goodwill to prevail,” he said.
Hataman who was former Muslim
autonomous regional governor said Gapay’s statement is dangerous and unfair. “The
Armed Forces should not be making general statements linking madrasa to
terrorists without presenting irrefutable proof of its existence. It is
dangerous and unfair, and it serves no real purpose but to unjustly put our
schools in a very compromising situation,” Hataman, himself studied in
madrasah, said.
Hataman said these institutions
only advocate for peace and learning and are not breeding grounds for violent
extremists and terrorists.
“Hindi ako kailanman nakarinig ng
kahit na anong turo ng tungkol sa terorismo. Sa katunayan, tinuturuan kami dito
na huwag gumawa ng masama at manakit ng kapwa. Bilang isang magulang, natatakot
ako sa statement na ito ng AFP. Paano kung ang anak ko ay nag-aaral sa isang
madrasa? Ano ang mararamdaman ng mga estudyante na sila pala ay iniimbestigahan
na?” said Hataman, a former governor of the now-defunct Autonomous Region in
Muslim Mindanao.
The Western
Mindanao Command headed by Lt. Gen. Corleto Vinluan Jr., said the dialogue is
aimed at building a stronger partnership between the military and the Muslim
people, particularly the Tausug, who were gravely hurt Gapay’s statement.
Gapay also clarified to Tan that he never said Madaris are spreading radicalization or sowing terrorism among its students. “We, AFP, believe that Islam is a religion that espouses peace above all others,” he said, adding, his statement meant was that “deceitful individuals are wanting to infiltrate the Madrasa to spread hate and plant the seeds of terrorism.”
“In kami ha AFP panāiban sin kamu, panganduli niyu kami. In kabayaan namu' kasanyangan sin hula' natu'. In pangatayan sin kami himahambuuk kaniyu. Magtayakkup kitaniyu katān ha hikarayaw sin hula' natu' Pilipinas. Muramurahan kitaniyu katān! Magsukul kaniyu, Wassalām." (We, the AFP, are your ally. You can trust us. Our hearts and minds are one with you. Let’s unite for the common good of our country. Long live Philippines! Thank you and may peace be with you all).
Gapay also thanked Tan and all the mayors, including the religious leaders for attending the dialogue. “I would like to thank Governor Tan, the mayors, the Ulamas, and all the attendees, for this opportunity to have a dialogue on how we can further help each other in achieving peace in our beloved country,” he said.
The meeting was also attended by Maj. Gen. William Gonzales, commander of the Joint Task Force Sulu, and other senior military officials. And Rep. Samier Tan and municipal mayors and other stake holders.
“We hope that this dialogue will ease the fears of
our beloved Tausug brothers and sisters and will subsequently win their hearts
and support to our campaign against terrorism. May this dialogue fill all the
gaps, solidify our relationship, and deeper our cooperation for peace in Sulu
and the entire country,” Vinluan said. (Mindanao Examiner)
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