Cebu City Muslim Community to Help Secure Sinulog Festivities

The Muslim community in Cebu has promised to support the efforts of the police and the military in securing the Sinulog festival on January 15.

Twenty Muslim community leaders were called to a meeting by the Police Regional Office (PRO) 7, the Cebu City Police Office and the Central Command to discuss measures they will implement during the celebration to prevent terror attacks.

“Peace is our aim. We assure you that we will do our best to prevent a ‘spillover’ from happening in the city,” said Ustadz Najib Razul from the Islamic Propagation Society of Cebu.

He said 200 Muslim youths will monitor the Sinulog for any suspicious-looking persons.

Malo Manonggiring, National Commission on Muslim Filipinos 7 director, said that like the past Sinulog festivals, they will give their 100-percent support to authorities following the recent bombing in Hilongos, Leyte.

“To my brothers, I am asking for your help for this upcoming Sinulog and the international beauty pageant and other events that will be held here. Let’s become instruments to maintain the peace,” Manonggiring said in Filipino.

PRO 7 Director Chief Supt. Noli Taliño said the assistance from the Muslim community is important for their stricter implementation of security during the festivities.

He encouraged them to report immediately any questionable presence in their community.

“There were threats in the past but I don’t see any here in Cebu but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t on full alert. Be vigilant because who would’ve have thought a bomb would explode in Hilongos during its fiesta celebration?” Taliño said. (PNA)LAP/EB/SSC