A joint statement on the present situation by the Bishops-Ulama Conference 21 August 2013

The successive bombings in recent weeks were horribly shocking and extremely violent. Lethal explosives killed several innocent civilians and wounded many others. The terrible incidents happened in the cities of Cagayan de Oro, Cotabato, Midsayap and in the town of Jolo.
We condemn these inhuman acts of violence and deplore the destruction of lives and properties they caused. We condole with the families of the victims and convey our sympathies. We appeal for help in favour of the wounded. We commend the efforts of generous donors and the compassionate gestures of the health workers. While we condemn the crime, we ask God’s/Allah’s mercy for the criminals and justice for the victims.
We make a strong appeal to the Philippine National Police and those in-charge of intelligence agencies to apply the force of law and to bring the culprits to justice. We ask our people to support their peace-keeping efforts.
We cannot close our eyes to the increasing waves of violence and terror in our land. While we recognize the legitimate causes of the rebel movements, we cannot support any movement and advocacy carried out through violence, terrorism and deceit. Instead we reiterate our recommendation for a human, respectful and truthful dialogue however long and tedious with the common good as the guiding principle and motive.
Violence, terrorism and deceit aggravate the misery of the millions who are poor and already wallowing in the murky mud of abject poverty. No amount of media hype can cover the scandalous contrast – economic growth as claimed makes the rich extravagantly richer, and renders the poor miserably poorer. This itself is violence, terrorism and oppression. It cannot be morally justified.
The spate of violent and terroristic activities presently happening in Mindanao make us wonder what is happening to our democratic institutions and the persons in charge of them. We refer to the Office of the President, Congress, Supreme Court, COMELEC, Armed Forces and the Philippine National Police, and Local Government Units. They were established to promote progress and development and peace, to protect human rights, and to serve the social, economic, political and cultural needs of the people while respecting freedom of worship and religion. Definitely they were not meant to serve the selfish interests of powerful and corrupt individuals who are experts in high-tech manipulation and deception.
As spiritual leaders and moral guides we feel a sense of shame and leadership failure in the midst of rampant corruption and scandalous scams among our people in the higher echelons of society and government. While we ask pardon from God and from our people for our shortcomings, our Christian, Islamic and Indigenous faiths urge us to obey God’s/Allah’s mandate to speak the truth enshrined in the Holy Bible and the Holy Qur’an.
The truth about us is, we are members of one human family, God’s and Allah’s people who must live in love, dialogue and hope.

“Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything
you ask, it will be done for them by the Father in heaven. For where
two or three are gathered in my name, there am I in the midst of
them”. ( Matthew 18:19-20)

“The believers indeed are brothers, so set things right between your
two brothers, and fear God; happily so you will find mercy” (Qur’an 49.10)

In the present situation we have to discern together, pray together, speak out loud and clear as one, and act together. For God/Allah helps those who help themselves. Because God/Allah is with us we have hope. Because we need each other we live in dialogue. Assured then by hope and strengthened by dialogue we with our people can become key promoters and key servants of lasting peace.
As an initial call for collective action we have adapted and proposed the following theme for the 2013 Mindanao week of Peace celebration: “Dialogue and Hope – Our Key to Peace”.