Mindanao prof to lead Filipino-Muslim pilgrims to Mecca this year

A professor in Mindanao State University and member of the government panel that would negotiate with Moro rebels has been appointed to lead Filipino Muslim pilgrims who will visit Mecca in Saudi Arabia this year. Professor Hamid Barra’s appointment as Amerol Hajj (Hajj leader) was announced by deputy executive secretary Amor Amorado on Monday. Barra’s other credentials include being head of the King Faisal Center for Islam, Arabic, and Asian Studies at the MSU, and president of the Ulama League of the Philippines. Amorado clarified that Barra’s position is separate from the position of secretary of the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF), which occupied by Bai Lucman. Lucman, an alleged midnight appointee of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, had questioned before the Supreme Court President Benigno Aquino III’s Executive Order No. 2, which removed all alleged midnight appointees from their posts. He said Barra’s appointment also complies with the requirement that an Amerol Hajj “should be a male." “The Amerol Hajj is the leader of the Muslim Filipino pilgrims. The law says that the Secretary (of the NCMF) shall be appointed as the Amerol Hajj. However, per tradition and per Muslim law, the Amerol Hajj should be a male," Amorado said. “He should be a he and not a she. That is why it's called Amer. If it is a woman, it's referred to as Amerata. So we could not possibly appoint Bai Lucman," he added. Amorado also said the appointment of Barra does not violate the status quo ante issued by the Supreme Court on Lucman’s appointment. “Appointing Bara as the Amerol Hajj does not mean that we are not recognizing Bai Lucman as the Secretary of the NCMF. It’s not the position, it’s the function." He said Barra’s appointment is temporary as he would only hold office until the Hajj is over, which is until the first week of December. - KBK, GMANews.TV