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Thursday, November 27, 2003
Execs call for unity at Ramadan closing
By Ben O. Tesiorna
PIKIT, North Cotabato -- Officials are calling for genuine reconciliation among Christians and Muslims as Islam believers celebrated Eid'l Fit'r, a feast culminating the observance of the month-long Ramadan.
Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Dinky Soliman and several high-ranking military officials attended the celebration.
In her speech, Soliman relayed to residents President Arroyo's message calling for Christians and Muslims alike to seek peace and forgiveness in their hearts.
"True love and unity can only be found in our faith in God and Allah," Soliman said.
She said it is for this very reason that the national government declared the Eid'l Fit'r celebration a national non-working holiday for all Filipinos, Christians and Muslims alike.
Major General Generoso Senga, commander of the Army's 6th Infantry Division, meanwhile expressed hope peace and harmony finally prevail in this war-torn municipality.
Col. Mohammad Benjamin Dolorfino of the 2nd Marine Battalion meanwhile urged his Muslim brothers to observe Ramadan as "a time for asking forgiveness and forgiving".
He said the real enemies are not the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) or the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) but poverty, injustice, lack of education and illnesses.
Pikit Mayor Farida Malingco, for her part, expressed gratitude to the national government and the military for their support, adding that she is absolutely certain that peace will now prevail in her municipality.
Soliman and Senga also declared that the ceasefire agreement in Pikit is holding on despite the absence of a formal peace agreement between the government and the MILF.
Senga said they are strictly enforcing the guidelines of the ceasefire agreement.
(November 27, 2003 issue)
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