THE safe release of Fr. Michael Sinnott one month after he was abducted last Oct. 11 has left a cloud of doubt and a dent on law enforcement capabilities in handling such crisis, as well as suppressed the truth on what really happened and how.
This statement is from the 48 signatories composed of Muslim heads, religious scholars, advocacy leaders and Sultans from around Zamboanga del Sur, who released the same to the media last Dec. 10.
The statement was distributed during a press conference with Sultan Maguid Maruhom of the Ummah Fi Salam last Thursday.
In it, they jointly said that, like their Christian counterparts, they too “celebrate the triumph of truth against evil once more, we are all aware of the potential ill effects of this unfortunate event to upset gains in the relationship of our people of different faiths.”
“Thanks to the timely action of the many that were conscious of their responsibility for justice and compassion, what could have been a situation which can bring wide ranging and costly outcomes was marvelously turned into an opportunity that only strengthens the bonds and solidarity of Christians and Muslims in this part of the world,” the statement said.
To recall, the National Ulama Conference of the Philippines (NUCP) with the Philippine Council for Islam and Democracy (PCID) has joined calls to appeal Sinnott’s captors to grant the Columban priest his unconditional freedom as they stressed that kidnapping is contrary to the teachings of Islam and Christianity as well as with other faiths who promote good deeds towards one’s neighbors.
The Muslim leaders adjoined that Sinnott’s abduction not only caused unnecessary sacrifice for the priest and to the organizations he belong, his family and friends but likewise created miseries and hardship to a lot of innocent Muslims.
“As government forces resorts to blockading many areas especially in the Yllana Bay and several municipalities, out of fear, hundreds of Moro farmers and fisher folks were deprived of their means of livelihood for days which left many impoverished families in suffering,”
Muslim civilians in remote areas were wrapped with fright as military troops combed rural villages in the province, they continued, scoring there were human rights violations committed.
But these were only ignored and forgiven by the victims apparently “because of their desire not to divert attention at the more imminent effort of securing the safe and immediate release of Sinnott.”
Yet, at present, a weighty and collective issue to the Muslims remains, the statement added, which tarnished the image of Islam again because Muslims were initially suspected as the kidnappers of Sinnott, just like in past occasions when somebody is snatched in Mindanao, Muslims in general “were virtually put in bad light and paradoxically Islam is dragged into the issue.”
To recall, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) released a statement complaining about the pronouncement of DILG Sec. Ronaldo Puno blaming them for Sinnott’s kidnapping.
According to Puno, the MILF’s 113th Base Command, led by Al Ashree, are responsible for the kidnapping of Fr. Sinnott.
Also, the NUCP, in a report dated Oct. 19, has appealed to the media to exercise vigilance against maligning the name of Islam.
“In the same spirit, we also call on the media to exercise vigilance against maligning the name of Islam by employing emotionally and politically-charged terms such as ‘Islamic militants’ and ‘Muslim terrorists’ in reference to the abductors of Fr. Sinnot,” the NUCP said.
The Islamic scholars said name labeling will result in a widened rift especially between Muslims and Christians, and perpetuate hatred and misunderstanding.
“Whilst we similarly condemn these acts of harassment against Islam, we are cognizant and highly appreciative of a tradition held in media practice which in nature is remarkably Islamic – that of actively and courageously speaking out against injustices in the preservation of the integrity of the Ummah or the larger community, one that derives its strength from finding unity in diversity,” it said.
Back to the statement by Zambosur Muslims, they reiterated that such a tag has “caused immeasurable damage to society that it is hard for the Muslims particularly of Mindanao to condone it and leave it to be repeated again.”
“The vast majority of Muslims cannot afford to be silent anymore and evade from their moral responsibility to stand for truth. Hence, we reiterate our strong condemnation not only for Fr. Sinnott abduction but all kidnapping incidents in the past, as well as, all forms of terrorism and banditry especially if these acts were done in the name of Islam or used to justify the cause of ‘jihad,’” the statement reads.
“It is for these reasons that we, the concerned Moro elders, civil society organizations and others join hands with our Muslim religious leaders in calling upon government to ferret out the whole truth related to this case and release it to the public in due time.”
“We also demand that justice be done to the victim of this heinous crime and those who were affected by the crises by making every person responsible for this crime answerable to our laws.”
“If indeed the perpetrators of this crime were members of the MILF, as claimed by some quarters, we strongly call upon the leadership of the movement to investigate and initiate their own action towards the cause of truth and justice. The continuous suspicion of the public on MILF members being responsible for the crime only erodes the reputation of the entire organization.”
On the day he was released, Sinnott was asked by reporters about his kidnappers and he replied it wasn’t the MILF, contrary to the claim of the government.
“I don’t know who kidnapped me, it was not the MILF. We were very sure of that,” he said, adding that he knew that the Muslim secessionist rebels “condemned kidnapping because it is against the Quoran.”
Sinnott declared his captors could have been a local group based in Pagadian City who not only wanted to earn money through kidnap-for-ransom activities, but also carried “separatist" sentiments.
The government, however, is not convinced that the MILF doesn’t have a hand in Sinnott’s kidnapping.
REPORT BY MICHAEL MEDINA & JONG CADION
