DAVAO CITY—Top-ranking Islamic leaders here held the city’s first peace summit to support the city government and the government military’s campaign for a much safer city.
Forty Muslim religious leaders gathered on Thursday to the first ever Ulama Peace Summit where they “discussed and created their own action plans on how to champion peace in their congregation and community.”
The summit seeks “to address miscommunication, misconception and discrimination” among the Muslim community in the city as well as to voice their aspirations for peace.
The summit centered around the propagation of the city’s “culture of security” aside from strengthening ties among Muslim religious leaders and the local government.
One of the outcomes of the workshop was the Ulama’s request “to craft a city ordinance that would protect them from hostility and discrimination. Another is the creation of a higher institution to perpetuate the Ulama’s mission of peace among the coming generations,” the city information office said.
Mayor Sebastian Duterte said he supported the Ulama’s proposal for an Islamic higher institution in the city. He said religion “shall not be used as a tool by which one’s propensity to do evil deeds is measured.”
He said there is an existing anti-discrimination ordinance in the city and this “should be utilized by anyone who experiences any form of discrimination.”
Task Force Davao Commander Darren Comia said, “We found it necessary to go to our friends, the Ulama since they are the religious leaders and because we believe that they are the influencers of their own community. We need to ask for their support and cooperation so that our culture of security can be fully implemented across all sectors here in Davao City,” Comia said.
The summit was also attended by six Muslim deputy mayors of Davao City, the Grand Mufti, or highest ranking Islamic leader, in Region 11, Mufti Alem Mohammad Yusop Pasigan, and President of Mercy Islamic Foundation Shiekh Abu Muhammad Al-Kholaqi.
Task Force Davao initiated and organized the peace summit while Comia presented the summit’s workshop outputs to Mayor Duterte.
He said, “Because the Ulama Peace Summit was a success, it will most likely become an annual event that can enhance the peace and security situation of the city.”
“There will be another one because they asked us to continue this kind of engagement with them. This is just the beginning,” Comia added.
The Ulama and other participants later signed a manifesto of support for the summit and its goals.
The summit was held at the Paglas Compound along Mamay Road.