Samira Gutoc hopes Marcos will support war victims in Muslim communities

Former Bangsamoro Transition Commission member Samira Gutoc on Wednesday expressed hope that President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Jr. will support war victims in Muslim communities.

Interviewed at the Laging Handa briefing, Gutoc said they hope that an anti-discrimination bill and other measures that are seen to benefit Muslim communities will be passed under the Marcos administration.

“One other bill is support to war victims kasi those who traveled to Manila away from conflict of Mindanao sana may proteksyon sa kanila in terms of ayuda and in terms of medical assistance,” she said.

(One other bill is support to war victims. We hope those who traveled to Manila away from the conflict of Mindanao can have protection in terms of financial assistance and medical assistance.)

“Yung Muslim-Christian harmony po ay bigyan ng tuon ng pansin, including the Philippine military kasi po meron silang army civilian relations unit,” she added.

(We also hope that the Muslim-Christian harmony, including the Philippine military would be given attention because they have an army civilian relations unit.)

“So yun ang bills o ilang programs that we like President BBM [to focus on]. Alam namin na some of the major Muslim-related laws like the creation of Muslim Affairs was under the first President Marcos. So, he knows about the issues of discrimination,” Gutoc added.

(So those are the bills or some programs that we like President BBM to focus on. We know that some of the major Muslim related laws like creation of Muslim Affairs was under the first President Marcos. So, he knows about the issues of discrimination.)

Gutoc, also a former member of the Legislative Assembly of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, ran for senator in the May elections as part of Isko Moreno's Aksyon Demokratiko slate.

Gutoc also commended first-term Senator Robin Padilla for filling the Equality and Non-Discrimination Act.

“I thank Senator Robin Padilla for filing the anti-discrimination bill… So, sana wala ‘yung ganoong discrimination, stereotyping… kasi sa atin lang naman kailangan ng mga diyalogo at mensahe ng kapayapaan amongst each other,” she continued.

(I thank Senator Robin Padilla for filling the anti-discrimination bill… So, I hope there is no such discrimination, stereotyping… because we only need dialogues and messages of peace amongst each other.)

On Tuesday, Padilla filed his first ten proposed pieces of legislation, including the anti-discrimination bill. — BM, GMA News