MUSLIMS WISH FOR PEACEFUL RAMADAN MUSLIMS WISH FOR PEACEFUL RAMADAN

By John Felix Unson

MUSLIMS are expecting this year’s Ramadan, which started Thursday, to be peaceful and “spiritually fruitful” for all the faithful.

The Darul Iftah (House of Opinions) in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao declared March 23 as the start of the Ramadan, a holy month in Islam where Muslims fast from dawn to dusk for one lunar cycle, lasting 28 to 29 days, as a religious obligation and reparation for wrongdoings.

Brig. Gen. John Guyguyon, director of the Police Regional Office-Bangsamoro Autonomous Region, and Army Major Gen. Alex Rillera, commander of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division, had separately extended their Ramadan greetings to Muslims in central Mindanao and in all areas in BARMM's core territory.

“We shall do our best to keep the peace we have in our surroundings during the Ramadan,” Rillera said on Wednesday afternoon.

Fasting during the month of Ramadan is one of the “five pillars” of Islam, which include belief in Allah, praying five times a day facing west, giving of alms to the poor and, for those who can afford the cost of travel, performing the hajj, or pilgrimage to Makkah in Saudi Arabia at least once in a lifetime.

Extend “iftar” to needy, Murad to Bangsamoro

CHIEF Minister Ahod

“Al Haj Murad” Balawag Ebrahim of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao has urged all Muslims in the region to extend “iftar” to the needy during the season of Ramadan.

He also announced adjusted work hours for all BARMM offices to allow Muslim employees to prepare for breaking of the fast and to have more time for prayers, Quran reading, among others.

By Edwin O. Fernandez

In consideration of the observance of fasting month of Ramadan, Chief Minister Ebrahim has modified the working schedule of officials and employees in regional offices starting Thursday, March 23.

In a memorandum circular issued Tuesday, Ebrahim said the flexible working hours is from 7:30 a.m. up to 3:30 p.m. with no noon break for the duration of Ramadhan shall be allowed for fasting

US helps improve quality of BARMM education

THE US government has launched new activities to help improve the quality of education in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).

The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) held the activities on March 14 and 15 to also strengthen the region’s adaptation to the effects of

By Nash B. Maulana

Climate Change.

USAID Deputy Mission Director Rebekah Eubanks joined BARMM officials— led by Cabinet Secretary Mohd Asnin Pendatun and Deputy Minister Haron Meling of the Ministry of Basic, Higher, and Technical Education (MBHTE)—to launch a P15-million ($273,000) technology-based education program in pilot areas in the Bangsamoro region. Under the USAID Beginning Reading Program, tablets are used to deliver reading instruction to students in Kindergarten through Grade 3.

A statement sent by the US Embassy said the tablets contain early grade reading employees during the period of Ramadhan.

This is in accordance with Presidential Decree (PD) No. 322 and Civil Service Commission Resolution No. 81-1277 dated 13 November 1981.

Regular working schedule in BARMM shall return to regular working hours (8 a.m. to 12 noon and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.) after the celebration of Eid’l Fitr marking the end of Ramadan.

Ebrahim also

Kidapawan priest briefly held over “salvage victim”

By Edwin O. Fernandez

A Catholic priest has claimed that a police officer suspected him of transporting a salvage victim while driving from Digos City to Kidapawan City on Monday.

In his social media post, Fr. Jonel Peroy of the Diocesan Clery of Kidapawan said he was driving home from Digos City where he picked up a statue of the dead body of Jesus Christ.

“Funny experience this morning,” the diocesan priest said. He picked up in Digos City a humansized statue of the dead Christ (Santo Entierro) for the Holy Week celebration in President Roxas parish.

At one police checkpoint, a police officer asked him to disembark from his pick-up vehicle so they can conduct plain view inspection.

Fr. Peroy shared the conversation between him and a police officer in one of the checkpoints along the Digos-Kidapawan highway:

Cop: “It appeared you are transporting a dead person! It looks like a wrapped dead body of a person.”

Fr. Peroy: “Sir, I am bringing with me the dead body of Christ.”

The cop appeared to be suspicious and in disbelief.