Diocese forms bodies to check on interfaith problems

MANILA, Philippines - The diocese of Pagadian and an inter-faith forum has started organizing committees to focus on specific problems faced by Christians, Muslims and lumads (indigenous peoples) there. Pagadian Bishop Emmanuel Cabajar said the committees will focus on illegal gambling, human rights violations and mining in the diocese. "The Interfaith Forum for Solidarity is composed of Catholics, United Church of Christ in the Philippines, Islam, and Subanen or indigenous people (who are) actually our conveners in representing indigenous people Catholics, Protestants and Muslims," he said in a statement posted on the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines website. In their latest meeting, the Interfaith Forum for Solidarity and Peace expressed concerns over the possibility of armed conflict in Kumalarang, Zamboanga del Sur. Last April, conveners of the group met at Saint Columban College, Pagadian City, where some members expressed apprehension over the killing of one Geron Dacula in Poblacion, Kumalarang town. One Jumadil Mangcabong was wounded while trying to rescue Dacula. The report of the human rights fact-finding team stressed that Dacula was only a nipa maker and has no known enemies. Cabajar said that since Dacula and some victims of killings in Kumalarang town were Muslims, their kin had suspected Christian residents perpetrated the crime. - GMANews.TV