Christians, Muslims, police join walk in Toledo against terrorism, violence

CEBU CITY, Philippines— Christians, Muslims, civic organization members, religious groups and the local police in Toledo City, a western city in Cebu, joined a solidarity walk against terrorism and violence on Sunday, March 24.

Dubbed as “Lakad Patungo sa Kapayapaan,” participants of the solidarity walk carried placards with texts “We are one, No to Terrorism,” “Peace not war” and “Terrorism has no place in Islam” as they paraded along the roads of the town center starting at 5:30 a.m.

A Muslim family joins the unity walk against terrorism in Toledo City in Cebu on Sunday, March 24.| Photo courtesy of Toledo Police Station

Superintendent Janette Rafter, Toledo City Police Station acting chief, said the solidarity walk was their response to the recent violent attacks of terror groups against churches and mosques in Mindanao in the past month.

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“Although there is no threat for us here in Toledo City, this is to show that we, as a community, are one in going against terrorism and even other forms of lawlessness here. We are one [against violence] regardless of political color or religious belief,” Rafter told CDN Digital via phone call.

Residents and local police in Toledo City join the unity walk against terrorism on Sunday, March 24. | Photo courtesy of Toledo Police Station

“In line with PNP PATROL Plan 2030 to improve community safety awareness through community-oriented crime prevention and control […] Toledo City Police conducted unity walk dubbed as ” Lakad tungo sa kapayapaan, Iwaksi ang karahasan” to unite all stakeholders, religious groups, students, civic and other NGO’s to condemn the recent bombings that transpired in Mindanao and how that Muslim and Non Muslim groups are one for peace and developments,” a post on the Toledo City Police Station Facebook page read.

Rafter said that there were at least 100 people who joined the event.

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Meanwhile, Rafter also told CDN Digital that all preparations had been laid out for the start of the local campaign period this Friday, March 29.

Despite having five candidates vying for the mayoral post, four vice mayoral candidates and 33 councilor bets battling over 10 seats, Rafter said they were confident that the city’s election would be peaceful since all candidates had been cooperative with the local police.

Toledo City, a third income class city 47.2 kilometers west of Cebu City, is under the green category in the risk assessment of the police, military and the Commission on Elections (Comelec). This means that the city “has no security concerns or is relatively peaceful and orderly.”/dbs