Senator Robinhood “Robin” Padilla has called on the Senate to investigate the recent shooting incident that killed a police officer in Taguig City, allegedly because of religious discrimination.

Padilla, in filing Senate Resolution No. 743, said it is imperative to look into the incident after it was reported that a Muslim police officer was involved in the incident and allegedly stemmed from previous instances of religious discrimination and mockery.

The senator said the Senate Committee on Cultural Communities and Muslim Affairs should conduct an inquiry in aid of legislation into the plight of the Muslim community “in light of the numerous acts and practices that disadvantage and undermine their religious beliefs, particularly in the observance of their dietary principles.”

The shooting incident at the Taguig police station last August 7 reportedly stemmed from an altercation with a Muslim officer after a pork dish was prepared in the police station.

According to Padilla, the Muslim officer provided him a letter where he said the incident “was exacerbated by previous instances of discrimination and mockery” aimed at him, as well as the surreptitious serving of pork without his knowledge.

Prior to this, the senator pointed out there were already instances and incident that stemmed from violation of Islamic dietary laws, including the case of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Calabarzon showing 51 products of a processed food brand with the “Halal” logo was contaminated with pork or its derivatives, and that the Halal certifier of the products was not accredited by the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF).

The Commission on Audit (COA) report for 2021 also flagged the caterer contracted by the Bureau of Corrections (BOC) for serving pork to Muslims and Seventh-Day Adventists inmates, violating the Food Subsistence Agreement that inmates shall be given food in accordance with their religious practice.

Padilla also recalled that the attempted hostage-taking of former Senator Leila de Lima at the PNP Custodial Center on Oct. 9, 2022, was allegedly a result of one Muslim inmate recounted being served pork.

The senator also recalled a plea submitted to the General Santos City government to establish a dedicated area for Halal food items within the local government-run central market, after it was found that some traders smeared pig blood coating to fish slices to make them appear fresh.

“Muslim Filipinos, constituting a minority within the Philippines, encounter unique challenges in the exercise of their religious beliefs, particularly when it comes to fulfilling their basic dietary needs,” Padilla noted.

“Given the recurring unfortunate incidents prejudicial to the Muslim community and their basic necessity for human survival, that is sustenance through food in line with their dietary principles, it is imperative for the Senate to thoroughly evaluate and formulate effective measures to address and mitigate these occurrences,” the lawmaker stressed.