After receiving backlash for his comments on the alleged radicalization of students in Islamic schools, General Gilbert Gapay, Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), held a dialogue with top muftis (Islamic jurists), imams (religious leaders), and madrasah (school) officials in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City on Monday to iron out their misgivings and strengthen their cooperation towards various peace initiatives.
The AFP chief of staff welcomed the Metro Manila-based Muslim delegates who paid a courtesy call on him at the General Headquarters.
The delegates were composed of Grand Mufti Dr. Al-Sheick Abdeljabar Macarimbor, of the Filipino-Arab Alliance and United Muslim Ummah Federation for Socio-Economic and Peace Development; Grand Imam Alem Maguid Tahir; Aleem Ahmad Kudarat; Aleem Abubacar Talib Manamping; Datu Umbria Mama; Aleem Hanip Sarip; Aleem Aliasgar Abolais; Mohammad Alioden Manalinding; Aleem Nashroden Alamada; Alihasan Taha; Aleem Khalid Matling; Aleem Abdulhamid Mustapha; Hismam Sedic; Abdul Malik Calauto; Almanzor Hajishaq; Abobacar Manampen; Sherwina Ali; Secretary to the NCR Grand Mufti Alex Lebria; and Bai Rohaniza Sumndad-Usman.
During the meeting, Gapay reiterated the military's strong resolve to protect madaris from terrorist exploitation.
"As mandated defenders of the peace and security of our land, we, in the AFP, remain staunch in intensifying our peace and security operations to slowly but surely reach our goal of uprooting the source of manpower, firepower, and finances of these local terrorist groups that have been disrupting the peaceful living of our citizens," Gapay said.
A madrasah (madaris in plural form) refers to an educational institution that teaches Islamic studies and Arabic literacy.
Gapay praised the Muslim leaders "for their expertise in multiple facets of peace and socio-economic development and wide knowledge of the true essence of Islam" which, he said, can be adopted by the military in their peace initiatives.
Meanwhile, Macarimbor called for a better collaboration between Muslim groups and the military to further develop their schools as "institutions of peace."
"We are happy that this meeting is a promising start to have a more lasting partnership with the AFP to further improve our Madaris and sustain this as a pillar and institution of peace. Everything happens for a reason and this may be Allah's way for the government to further look into and act on the many challenges of the Madaris throughout the country," Macarimbor said.
Gapay further said that the military has ongoing partnerships with Imams and Muslim organizations in preventing and countering violent extremism (PCVE), and programs that give emphasis on stakeholder engagements and local government participation.
He said PCVE activities contribute in protecting vulnerable communities and facilities such as primary and secondary schools, colleges and universities, madrasah, and torils or orphanages from radicalization and extremist recruitment.
Among these programs include the National Youth Leadership Summit and the National Indigenous Peoples’ Leaders Summit which are regularly conducted to protect the youth and indigenous people (IP) sectors, he noted.
Last October 14, Gapay said that the military partnered with the Department of Education to monitor several madaris in Mindanao, particularly in Sulu. He said the military has suspicions that terrorists have been radicalizing the students to join their group.
"It is in one of these institutions or areas where recruitment is occurring particularly among the youth," Gapay had said in a virtual briefing.
This did not sit well with some Muslim leaders and groups. Basilan Representative Mujiv Hataman called out Gapay for his "dangerous and unfair" remarks.
Gapay has since apologized for the remarks as he said it was not intended to offend the Muslim community but to reveal the extent of the penetration of the terrorist groups in the community and warn the public against them.