Leaders raise concern over abductions

Zamboanga City: The Inter-Faith Council of Leaders (IFCL) aired concerns over the kidnappings in the area.

They said the incidents not only challenge the basic rights of the people, but also threaten to split religious communities as well.

In a statement, the council said: "We are greatly saddened that the kidnapping incidents do violence to individuals and threaten that most basic right, the right to life.

"While we [IFCL members] profess our different and respective faiths, we mutually agree that violence to others is an offence to God and runs counter to a basic teaching found in our respective faiths& love of God and love of neighbour."

Respected Muslim and Christian residents in Zamboanga City counts among the members of the council.

The IFCL stressed the so called "A Common Word," a document prepared by 138 Muslim scholars and addressed to the Pope and other Christian leaders, reminding mankind of the basic teachings in both Islam and Christianity.

"We are also saddened by the realisation that these kidnappings are driving a wedge that threatens to create a split between our religious communities living in peace in our beloved Zamboanga City," the IFCL declared.

The same Council said: "Kidnappings are in themselves evil. We will not contribute to the evil they spawn by making conjectures about who are responsible, what the motives are, nor cast aspersion against one group or another."

The IFCL called on communities in Zamboanga to do what they can to minimise evil-doings by acting more responsibly to insure the residents' safety and that of family and household members, in particular.

"We will cooperate with the legitimate authorities in our respective barangays (villages) and government unit. Needless to say, our concern for safety extends beyond the boundaries of our own homes to that of the neighbourhood as well," the community leaders said.

Also, it called upon the multi-sectoral leaders of Zamboanga City to continue to confer widely with their sectoral members to elicit ideas and suggestions on how best to act under the present situation. "Having done this, in coordination with our city officials, they shall then come together and draw an action plan for implementation in all barangay neighbourhoods," said IFCL.