Deputy City Police Director, Supt. Timmar Alam (center) holds a press conference after their meeting with Muslim leaders in Cebu City (CDN PHOTO/LITO TECSON).
The Muslim community in Cebu condemns the Davao bombing by the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) and wants peace in Cebu.
Fredie ‘Muhammad Arafat’ S. Lozano, president of the Islamic Propagation Society of Cebu, said Muslims in Cebu are mostly traders and want a peaceful Cebu.
Lozano and 24 other Muslim community leaders manifested their support to the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) to keep peace in the city after the Davao City bombing last Friday evening.
They met with the police yesterday at the CCPO headquarters in Camp Sotero Cabahug.
In a press conference after the meeting, Lozano told reporters that those responsible for the bombing in Davao, misunderstood the Islam religion.
“They are misguided. Tao rin sila. (They are human.) They are not perfect,” he said.
“Where is the peace there? What they were doing was not anymore Islam as Islam is a religion of peace,” Lozano said.
The meeting which started at 9 a.m. yesterday, ended around 1 p.m. He emphasized that they “love Cebu” and their community is here to do business.
“We renew our vow to support police not just only for us. We believe on coexistence,” he told the reporters.
“We live here for peace not for mess. We cannot afford and tolerate doing bad things that will happen in Cebu,” he added.
There are around 10,000 Muslims in Cebu.
CCPO Director Joel Doria has placed the entire city under tight security, especially the Cebu IT Park, one of the busiest business locations in the city where BPO companies, banks, restaurants and bars are operating.
“We have deployed a 24-7 security in populated areas, most especially, the IT Part and have canceled all leaves of our policemen to ensure round-the-clock security in the area,” Doria said.
They have also coordinated with major establishments to ensure their CCTV cameras are fully functional.
“We are urging the public to submit to the inspections and be wary of suspicious baggage and paper bags left in public places,” Doria added.