THE National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF) urged on Tuesday, October 11, 2022, the Philippine National Police (PNP) to conduct a religious and cultural sensitivity educational awareness program following the improper usage of the term “Muslim” and “Islam” during the hostage taking incident inside the PNP Custodial Center in Camp Crame over the weekend.
Three inmates, namely, Feliciano Sulayao, Arnel Cabintoy and Idang Susukan, who were all members of the Abu Sayyaf terrorist group, tried to escape the facility on Sunday morning, October 9.
Cabintoy and Susukan died after they were shot by a responding policeman, while Sulayao scampered, leading him to take hostage former senator Leila de Lima, who was in a separate compound.
In a video footage taken by a policeman who was at the scene, it can be heard that he was repeatedly telling his comrades the term “Muslim” or phrases like “’Yung mga Muslim,” “Tatlong Muslim yun” and “Mga Muslim yun” as he pertains to the escapees.
“The PNP and media community should have learned that the term ‘Muslim’ refers to a person who adheres to Islam as his religion. Said term has a religious connotation,” the NCMF said.
“Hence, one should realize by now that the term ‘Muslim’ does not equate to the term terrorism or violence. It has nothing to do with it. One should realize that terrorism and violence have no religion. It has nothing to do with any religion,” it added.
Senator Robin Padilla also expressed disappointment at the policeman’s actuations.
In a television interview, PNP Chief Rodolfo Azurin Jr. apologized, saying they have taken note of his comments.
He said the wrongful use of the said terms by his men may have been due to “adrenaline rush.”
"Kung minsan nagre-responde ka, you either identify or describe po -- sino ba 'yung suspect? Ilocano. Sino 'yung ano? Bicolano — para malaman po agad ng mga kapulisan kung sino po ba yung hinahanap natin, that sometimes those are part of the descriptions we attribute po sa criminals, suspects na hinahanap natin,” said Azurin.
The NCMF said the PNP should also be culturally sensitive in preparing food for the inmates and persons deprived of liberty.
In her affidavit, De Lima said Sulayao, who was also killed during the incident, claimed that they were being treated like “animals” inside the facility and that their food has pork, which is forbidden for Muslims.
The PNP earlier said that the matter is already being investigated.
The NCMF also recommended to Azurin for police personnel to stop, if not avoid, biases, prejudice stereotype, marginalization and discrimination against the Muslim Filipino communities in the country.
“These simple issues when left unaddressed and neglected often turn into major socio-cultural problems that may lead to disunity, disloyalty and dissatisfaction which may result in dissenting government policies,” the commission said. (SunStar Philippines)