PRESS RELEASE
January 11, 2005
For reference: Rep. Joel G. Virador, (Mobile # 09209607108)
 
BAYAN MUNA SOLON  DENOUNCES ARREST OF MUSLIMS IN QUIAPO
 
BAYAN Muna representative Joel G. Virador today joined concerned Muslim groups in denouncing the highly irregular and groundless arrest and detention of suspected Muslim bombers in the Manila Islamic Library last Friday. 
 
He also warned against the ensuing crackdown being planned by the Philippine National Police on some 320 members of so-called Muslim militant groups across Luzon, saying the act would undoubtedly lead to more unlawful arrests of innocent Muslims.
 
“Such moves merely cultivate the age-old prejudices generally being held against our Muslim brothers and inflame the enduring feud between Christians and Muslims,” he said.
 
Virador, who hails from North Cotabato, said these acts are particularly pronounced in Mindanao where the military and police automatically and unceremoniously lay the blame on Muslims for committing so-called terrorist acts.  He said Muslims in Mindanao were being rounded up without due process, simply because of their religious background.  “The police and the military would be practically replicating in Luzon what is now happening on a widespread basis in Mindanao,” he warned.
 
He also slammed the Arroyo government, specifically the national police and the military, for its “perpetual distortion of the Muslim faith by linking religious practices with acts of terrorism.”
 
“It is quite farfetched for the PNP to claim that these Muslims were rounded up for planning to bomb civilians, and during a highly-celebrated Christian activity at that.   Such an unsubstantiated, dubious and apparently fabricated claim unfairly puts all Muslims in a bad light,” Virador said.
 
“The government remains chiefly responsible for the negative image being projected against our Muslim brothers,” he added.  “The unlawful arrest of Muslims in Quiapo underscores the fact that the Arroyo government’s so-called anti-terrorism campaign will merely target not only Muslims in general but also innocent civilians,” Virador said.#