THE Iloilo City Police Office (Icpo) and Iloilo United Muslims Community Inc. (IUMCI) signed a covenant against terrorism at the Iloilo Pioneer Masjid, the group's worship center, in Barangay Magdalo, Iloilo City, Friday, February 10.
Among those who signed the covenant were: ICPO Acting Director Remus Zacarias Canieso, IUMCI President Imam Umar Madrigal, Imams Nasser Mersederio of Jumiato Moalafate Kolobohan Inc., Abdul Salam Umpara of San Pedro Muslim Community, San Isidro Muslim Community Chairman Khalid Barodi, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency Regional Director Gil Pabilona, Liga ng mga Barangay Iloilo City President Reyland Hervias, and 82nd Infantry Battalion Commander Vener Morga.
“Terrorism has many faces... it is fatal and has tremendous effects... globally, it claimed millions of lives,” Caniezo said in his message.
“This should not happen in Iloilo, we should be on the lookout to prevent terror acts from happening here,” he added.
Canieso said the covenant is part of the police's campaign against terrorism to ensure that Iloilo City will remain a peaceful place to live in.
He stressed that while a person's religion has nothing to do with violence, there are those who use it to justify their violent acts, which is against the tenets of religion that promotes peace.
Bombs cannot differentiate who will be the victims, Canieso said.
Canieso said the involvement of the Muslim community is very significant, particularly through intelligence information gathering and validation.
“Let us help each other to ensure Iloilo will still remain peaceful and orderly,” Canieso said.
Barodi said their community is one with the police in the goal to keep Iloilo a safe place to live in.
Now living in the metro for more than two decades, Barodi called on his brethren to extend support to the police.
Also part of the covenant was various intelligence communities of the Philippine National Police, Philippine Army and the National Bureau of Investigation, among others. (PNA)