Some 130 Muslim religious scholars from different parts of the country attended the zonal maswara or johoor — a prayer meeting and seminar — at the private compound in Dauin, Negros Oriental, owned by the head of Muslim communities in the province.
The activity was held Thursday and Friday with the participants being encouraged to echo what they have discussed during the “johoor” to their families when they return home.
The participants come from Iligan, Zamboanga del Sur, Lanao del Norte, Pagadian City, Ozamis City and Central Visayas, among others, and are convened at the private property of Sultan Tati.
The “johoor” was off limits to women, thus, only male reporters were allowed inside to observe the activities.
The talks covered the Muslim complete religion as well as responsibility and knowledge of Allah’s purpose for everyone, and for each one to conduct a religious activity when they return home.
The activity was previously held nationwide in just one setting, however, this time, it was divided into 11 zones due to lack of venue, although all zonal maswaras are held in October, said Sultan Tati.
There were foreign participants in the past but because of the crisis in Marawi City, this time, the activities are limited to just the locals.
Meanwhile, Maj. Gen. Jon Aying, the commander of the 3rd Infantry Division of the Philippine Army based in Jamindan, Capiz, was one of the guest lecturers on Thursday during the johoor.
He understands that the johoor is like conducting a retreat for Christians to be nearer to God, and this is a tradition of Islam being held regularly.
Maj. Gen. Aying thanked the Muslim communities here for the trust in inviting him as a guest lecturer.
This also goes to show that they have confidence in the military who can provide protection and security to the Muslims, Aying stressed.
According to the Army commander, they are also obliged to provide them with security as he stressed peaceful co-existence and respect with every different religion.
In his message to the participants, he assured that for as long as there is mutual understanding and respect, that the military will be there to protect them and respect their rights.
The Philippine National Police (PNP) acting provincial director for Negros Oriental, meanwhile, had allayed apprehensions by some quarters over the staging of a Muslim “johoor”.
Sr. Supt. Edwin Portento has assured the public that tight security measures are in place to ensure the safety of everyone, especially with the ongoing UNIGAMES in the provincial capital, Dumaguete City.
Portento’s assurance comes as some quarters had raised concerns over the “johoor”, noting that a similar activity was held in Marawi City shortly before the siege, and reports later said that gathering was penetrated by “ISIS members”.
But the provincial police director explained that the Islamic prayer meeting is under close monitoring and its organizers have in fact coordinated with the authorities since the activity was still on the drawing board.
“We don’t want to offend them. They have the right to freedom of assembly and we have to respect that”, he said.
According to Portento, while plans were not yet final on the Islamic gathering in Dauin, the PNP had already mapped out a security contingency plan, in coordination with other security forces such as the Armed Forces of the Philippines to include the Army and Navy, the Coast Guard, the intelligence community and the provincial Joint Task Force Leon Kilat.
To ensure everyone’s safety, the profiles of the participants have been forwarded to higher headquarters for verification, he said.
Also, strict measures are in place, such as the confinement of the participants to the venue for the duration of the prayer meeting, the issuance of identification cards for the activity, detailed pick-up and drop-off of participants from their port of entry, such as the airport, sea port and bus terminals to the venue and vice versa, and the assurance from organizers that not one of them would be billeted at a hotel, he added.
After all, this is a prayer meeting and therefore they are expected to be at the activity venue rather than at hotels, Portento pointed out. (Juancho Gallarde and Judy Flores Partlow/PNA)
