Fear of backlash mounts after Lanao Sur placed under MECQ

By MASIDING NOOR YAHYA

MARAWI CITY – A concerned Muslim leader here is worried on the backlash of placing Lanao del Sur and Marawi City under Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine (MECQ) without due consideration to religious sensitivity.

*Then presidential candidate Rodrigo Duterte being interviewed by Abdul Hannan Tago for Arab News. (File)*

Abdul Hannan Tago, a director of Philippine Amanah Bank and a former senior journalist in the Arab News, said he feared repercussions of the measure will affect the entire community.

Tago said the measure has been tested in other localities but did not succeed effectively.

“Strict measure without spiritual reform and repentance that only ensure discipline was already a failure experience in Iligan,” said Tago, now a columnist of Philippine Muslim Today.

“Why should we adopt them here in Lanao del Sur?” he asked.

Tago recalled on April 18 there was no any case in Lanao del Sur and “we openly requested that prayers at Masajid in the last 10 days of Ramadan should be allowed. Hindi daw kasi walang kinikilala ang Covid-19.”

“Instead, no Taraweeh was allowed nor Eid Al Fitr, alleging they may not be able to control the worshipers so the virus will spike and spread more. So saan tayo ngayon?,” Tago remarked. (Muslimedia.PH)