Islamic leaders assure peace amid Imam’s murder

ISLAMIC leaders in the city allayed fears of reprisal or disruptive acts as a result of the murder of Imam Bedejim Abdullah on December 6 and committed to maintain peace and guard against activities that pose threat to the city’s security.

In a meeting called upon by Mayor Mauricio Domogan, National Commission on Muslim Filipinos-Northern Luzon legal officer Yaser Guru along with the heads of other Muslim associations in the city assured that they will close their ranks against any activity that would destroy the city and disrupt the peaceful and harmonious relationship they have established with the locals in the aftermath of the death of Abdullah.

Abdullah, a known propagator of Islamic teachings here and abroad, was shot to death in broad daylight along Kayang Street by a lone gunman.

The Baguio City Police Office (BCPO) which formed a task force for Abdullah case still faced a blank wall as to the identity of the suspect and the motive behind the killing as of the date of the meeting.

“For many years we have been supportive of the City Government’s policies and programs and order and you still have our unwavering support in the pursuit of peace,” Guru told Domogan. “Rest assured that we will protect Baguio because being residents of this city, we love Baguio and we will not allow any destruction to come upon it as well as the harmony and camaraderie that we enjoy with our fellow residents.”

He expressed their readiness to report any suspicious persons and activities that pose threat to the city’s security and cooperate with the police authorities for any lead that will help solve the killing of Abdullah.

Domogan sought the meeting to seek the Muslim community’s help in quelling any restiveness that may have been building as a result of the killing even as he assured that the city government and BCPO are exerting their best efforts to get to the bottom and eventually close the Abdullah case.

The mayor also sought the help of the community for any information that may lead to the identification and capture of the gunman.

Guru assured they will do their part and appealed to the mayor for the ongoing investigation to yield a positive outcome as to the identity of the suspect.

“The only thing we need is to know the identity of the suspect. That alone is justice to us and once this is resolved, you can expect that we will double our efforts to maintain peace,” he said even as he assured that there will be no reprisal once the suspect has been collared.

“Please do not think that there will be a retaliation or some sort of revenge after this. It is just not the way anymore for Muslims in Baguio. We have had cultural assimilation in our many years of stay here and a lot had intermarriage with the Igorots. That is a good indication that we don’t have much differences anymore culturally speaking,” Guru said.

City Police Director Eliso Tanding assured that they will leave no stone unturned in the investigation and promised to keep the communication lines open with the Muslim community as the developments of the case. (PR)

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