Ulama council appeals for calm amid attack on Zambo City mosque

The Ulama Council of Zamboanga Peninsula (UCZP) on Wednesday called on Muslims and Christians to "maintain solidarity and harmony as advocates of peace" following the attack on a mosque in Zamboanga City that killed two people.

"This is a time for increasing our patience, our faith and our prayers for peace and security and not let our emotions rule over our wisdom and sense of justice," the UCZP said in a statement.

"Let no man be tempted by the forces of evil to embrace vengeance. Let us not put the law into our own hands, rather we should cooperate with the competent authorities in bringing the perpetrators to the bar of justice," it added.

UCZP's chairman, Sheikh Abdulwakil Kasim, noted that there could be groups that are pitting Muslims and Christians against each other in Zamboanga City.

"Sabi po ng Task Force natin maaaring may mga grupong gustong wasakin 'yung ugnayan ng mga Muslims at Christians dito sa Zamboanga," he said in an interview on Balitanghali.

"Possible po na ganon kasi gusto ng mga grupo na 'yan na ma-justify kasi may sumabog na simbahan, dapat siguro may sasabog na mosque para po mag-away ang dalawang religious na grupo."

Two people, both preachers, were killed while three others were wounded when a grenade was lobbed inside the mosque located at the Logoy Diutay, Barangay Talon-Talon mosque at 12:20 a.m..

Prior to the grenade attack, Kasim, who also chairs the Crisis Committee, said the residents in the area have not received any threats.

Authorities are still investigating the incident to determine the real motive behind the attack.

"Sa ngayon po nagkakaroon kami ng pulong-pulong, mga security sector, ibang religious sector na pag-usapan at magkaroon ng magandang solusyon para maagapan 'yung mga parating na problema," Kasim said.

"Kagabi po nananawagan po kami sa Muslim community na kung may haka-haka man po, ang pinakamaganda diyan ay pag-usapan maigi para po mabigyan ng period ang lahat ng haka-haka para di na lumaki ang issue."

The victims are preachers from Lamitan and Isabela in Basilan who were in the city to conduct preaching activities. They were asleep inside the mosque as part of preparations for a scheduled early morning prayer. —Anna Felicia Bajo/KBK, GMA News