NORDIS WEEKLY
January 8, 2006

 

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Muslim lawmaker anti-ATB

BAGUIO CITY (Dec. 15) — In a forum here, Anak Mindanao Representative Mujiv Hataman discussed the current situation of Muslims in the country as part of their campaign against the Anti-Terrorism Bill.

Various Muslim association leaders and religious leaders were present to witness the said talk of “the only defender of Muslims’ rights,” according to the city’s Muslim Affairs Director Abel Abdullah Macarimpas.

Hataman first expressed his opposition to the Anti-Terrorism Bills, which he deemed discriminatory to Muslims. “Even before the Bill came to exist, Muslims were labeled as terrorists already,” he said in Filipino.

“Sa Bill na ito, ang mga pulis ay puwedeng manghuli ng kahit sinong Muslim basta pinaghihinalaang terorista kahit walang warrant of arrest” (With this Bill, police can seize any Muslim who is suspected as a terrorist even without warrant of arrest,) he added.

Meanwhile, Hataman also tackled the undeniable corruption cases in some Muslim government offices.

In the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao, P800,000 in the Government Service Insurance System fund was reportedly lost. Last September, P200,000 which was supposedly allotted for teachers’ additional salary was not given to them, Hataman reiterated.

Also, he said that he could not deny the fact that the intention of some Muslim officials is to earn money using their positions.

Hataman condemned these unlawful acts as he called for honesty and Muslim unity to fight corruption. He emphasized that “not all Muslims are corrupt.”

However, Macarimpas said that despite the inadequate budget for the Office of Muslim Affairs in Regions I, II, III and CAR, they still manage to work and serve for Muslims’ welfare.

In fact, Macarimpas has filed over a hundred cases involving Muslims’ rights and he is now getting positive results so far, according to a report.

Recently, he filed a case against a Dagupan City police officer who shot a Muslim because of jealousy. The court hearing is now on going, he added.

Hataman highlighted that “dapat ipahayag na nagkakaisa ang [mga] Muslim.” # Rruby Keith Sison/UP Intern for NORDIS

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