Official clears Muslims from Makilala bombing
By Mai Gevera
Davao City (18 October) -- “He couldn’t be a Muslim.”
This was stated by Sultan Kudarat governor Pax Mangudadatu as his answer to allegations involving the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) in the bombing that happened in Makilala, North Cotabato.
The said bombing that struck the town in the middle of Ramadan is the biggest proof that it’s not a doing of a Muslim, he said.
Mangudadatu believed that no Muslim would do such crime especially in the middle of the Ramadan period.
Meanwhile, he also said that taking the deadlock of the peace talk between the government panel and the MILF as a contributory factor that might have caused several bombing incidents.
The sole Muslim member of the GRP panel, Mangudadatu suspected some retaliation on the part of the MILF to have the talks temporarily shelved.
“I observe that the Muslims are very supportive just before the deadlock. However, we have seen some MILF supporters gone against the system as they also have sympathy to the negotiation," he claimed.
Mangudadato admitted his efforts of secretly convincing and talking with some concerned personalities to push the pending talks.
Nevertheless, he urged the officials in his province along with the residents to contribute in improving the management systems in Sultan Kudarat. He sees the need to improve the guarding system as well as vigilance of every individual.
“I hope that my Muslim brothers will not allow criminals to be in our area," he stressed. (PIA XI) [top]