Gov Aris to open Muslim

Affairs Office at Mansion

TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol, August 25 (PIA) –A Muslim Affairs Office would soon be established at the Capitol and this would be manned by Muslim employees.

This as Governor Erico Aristotle Aumentado agreed that Muslims need to preserve their cultural heritage and to by opening up the Office of Muslim Affairs, it can cater to the social, economic, cultural and educational needs of the Muslim nation.

He also believed that this will further entice Muslim tourists to enjoy Boholano hospitality and mentioned about the possible halal food made easily available here.

This too as the governor and chairman of the Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC), swore into office the 18 newly elected officers of the recently organized Bohol Muslim Community Peace Movement Inc., in front of the PPOC members gathered at the Multi Purpose Hall of the Bohol Provincial Police Office in Camp Francisco Dagohoy, August 25.

Sworn to office were Taha Malabi, President; Asnawi Matua, Vice President; Florencio Reyes, Secretary, Zafrulla Lim Jikiril, Asst Secretary; Acmad Maruhom, Treasurer; Abdulsamad Pangompig, Auditor and Amina Sacar, Book keeper.

Also sworn in by the governor were Nasrodin Cosain, Press Relations Officer (PRO) Bohol District I; Benjie Ali, PRO Bohol District II; Laarni Abbas, PRO Bohol District III; Abedin Macalayo, Board of Director (BOD), Darussalam Muslim Community; Dimakota Alangadi, BOD, Islamic Center Muslim Community; Alim Panarigan, BOD Muslim Village Islamic Community; Mohaimen Macaumbos, BOD, Tubigon Islamic Community; Basari Pariba, BOD, Ubay Islamic Community, Amalan Abbas, BOD, Alnasrie Islamic Community , Aliakbar Maruhom, BOD, Norol Hidaya Islamic Community and Jonas Ejoc, BOD, GASAKA Dawa Center Islamic Community.

The newly organized group, in Resolution No. 4 series of 2022, has requested the Provincial Government through the governor for the implementation of Executive Order No 23, issued by the former administration directing the Provincial Assessors Office to identify in the Province-of-Bohol owned lots a space set for an Islamic cemetery.

However, the said Executive Order has remained to be a piece of paper, without an identified lot for the purpose.

In their resolution, the Muslim community said Muslims who have already established permanent residence in the different parts of Bohol, have long been confronted with the problem of [lack] of available lot to be used as the final resting place for their deceased brothers and sisters.

We, and our people are in dire need of an Islamic Cemetery that is easily accessible to all Muslim communities in the province where we can bury our departed brethren within 24-hours upon death, in accordance with the Islamic customs and traditions, they stressed.

They also asserted that they are peace-loving citizens who opted to reside in this beautiful island by choice and are registered voters in different voting precincts, but are mostly low income earners and can not afford to purchase the lot that can be used as final resting place of their brothers.

On this, the governor has also tasked the group to help Bohol find a suitable lot for the purpose as he can not implement what has not been identified by the previous administration as the subject lot.

The group also asked the governor to provide an office tasked for the sacred preservation of the valued Muslim cultural heritage.

The office to be called the Muslim Affairs Office, shall be preferable manned by Muslim employees of the Provincial Government, who are already familiar with the Islamic customs and traditions.

On this, the governor said a space would be available for the office at the vacant spaces at the Governor’s Mansion. (RAHC/PIA-7/Bohol)

PRESERVING MUSLIM CULTURE. Bohol has just opened a Muslim Affairs Office which would be tasked to lobby for equal rights and privileges for Muslims in Bohol. The group has also asked the Capitol for a lot they can convert into an Islamic Cemetery. (RAHC/PIA_7/Bohol)