ASIA/PHILIPPINES - Muslims fighting Isis: "sign of sincerity" says a missionary

Friday, 29 January 2016 islam   violence   terrorism  

Zamboanga (Agenzia Fides) - "It is a very positive step. It demonstrates the sincerity of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) in the search for peace": this is how Fr. Angel Calvo, a Claretian missionary, for several decades in Mindanao, who today lives in the city of Zamboanga, in the extreme south of the Philippines, judges the public statement of the Islamic movement that has decided to actively cooperate with the government to stop the spread of the Islamic State (Isis) in the southern Philippines.
In the southern Philippines, where there is a large Muslim community, Isis is trying to recruit new fighters and contaminate local groups.
"Today, Isis is the brand that works. Small local radical groups like the ideology of Isis, although I do not believe this is an alarming situation, because these are small isolated incidents", said Fr. Calvo. "The position taken by the formations that historically represent Islam Filipino, such as the MILF, and by many other Islamic leaders, makes it clear that the Muslim community in the southern Philippines rejects the poisoning that Isis tries to accomplish".
"MILF is fully committed to the peace process. It is a long, slow process, and you have to have patience. After the agreement signed with the government of Benigno Aquino, the present Parliament has not ratified it yet. The issue has been postponed to the new government that will take office after the elections of May 2016", concludes the missionary. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 29/01/2016)


Share: