Duterte to Muslim Filipinos: Remain as gov't partners in promoting peace, understanding

President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday urged Muslim Filipinos to remain as government partners in promoting peace and understanding in the country as he joined them in the celebration of Eid'l Fitr.

Eid’l Fitr is celebrated by the Muslim world for three days after the end of Ramadan, Islam’s holy month, which calls for spiritual reflection through praying, fasting and abstaining from sinful behavior.

“May all Muslim Filipinos observe this day as a time for reflection, enlightenment and renewal of commitment to a much stronger devotion to the Almighty,” Duterte said in his Eid’l Fitr message.

“Take this as an opportunity to deepen your role as instruments of love, sacrifice, respect and selfless service and may each of you remain our government’s partner in promoting peace and understanding among Filipinos from all walks of life.”

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, meanwhile, also greeted Muslims on Eid'l Fitr and said encouraged them to continue working with the administration in the implementation of the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL).

"On behalf of our One Defense Team, I would like to extend my warmest greetings to our Muslim brothers and sisters as the Ramadan draws to a close," he said.

"In observance of Eid al-Fitr, we also celebrate the spirit of social healing, reconciliation, and unity. Let us therefore continue to work together as one nation to ensure the implementation of the Bangsamoro Organic Law," Lorenzana said.

"Your One Defense Team will be helping in the transition from a life of division and differences, to a life of lasting peace and prosperity. This is our chance to make our present situation better. We shall pass on a more prosperous Mindanao to the next generation. Let us make history together!" he added.

Duterte had declared June 5 a regular holiday to allow the entire nation to celebrate the occasion.

The President has taken steps to ensure lasting peace in Mindanao including the creation of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) as a result of the passage of the BOL in July last year.

The BOL seeks to end decades of armed conflict in Mindanao by abolishing the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) and establishing a new Bangsamoro region with an expanded land and water jurisdiction, fiscal autonomy, increased share in national government resources, among others.

"As we mark a new chapter in our history, I call upon Bangsamoro to take advantage of this opportunity and finally correct the historical injustices and forget the bitterness of the past so that we may embrace each other as Filipinos," Duterte said in his speech at the inauguration of the BARMM in Cotabato City on March 29.

The President had also said he was in a “hurry” to strike an agreement with Moro National Liberation Front founding chairman Nur Misuari who warned of war if the federal system of government being pushed by Duterte was not adopted. —KBK/KG, GMA New