Officials want culprits in chapel arson try arrested soon, penalized

MAGUINDANAO --- Local officials here want the perpetrators of an arson try against San Isidro de Labrador chapel in Barangay Labo-Labo, Shariff Aguak, Maguindanao identified, arrested and prosecuted as soon as possible.Shariff Aguak Mayor Marop Ampatuan said on Sunday that he has requested the municipal police to identify the culprits and prosecute them for the offense. This is something were we cannot tolerate. We cannot allow terrorists to wedge the religious solidarity of Muslims, Christians and Lumads in our municipality, said Ampatuan, chairman of the municipal peace and order council.Unidentified men set on fire at past 9 p.m. on Thursday the chapel's altar that damaged religious articles and statues, according toFire Officer 1 Alonto Blaim, Shariff Aguak fire marshall.Shariff Aguak is not too distant from Maguindanao’s Mamasapano, Shariff Saidona and Salibo towns, where there are members and sympathizers of the three factions in the outlawed Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters.Leaders of the three BIFF groups, mostly clerics, are eloquent in stoking public animosity to non-Muslims using religious differences, poverty and other social disparities as talking points.Catholic priest Eliseo Mercado, Jr. of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate congregation, who had served in Shariff Aguak and nearby towns during the early years of his priesthood, said the government should act on the incident swiftly.The vice mayor of Shariff Aguak, Hadji Akmad Ampatuan, and Maguindanao Gov. Esmael Mangudadatu both offered earnest money to any informant who could identify the people behind the attack. We condemn that incident. That was blasphemy. Islam teaches respect for religions and worship sites. Islam teaches religious tolerance. We have a principle in our religion that says there is no compulsion in religion, Mangudadatu said.Army and police intelligence officials said they are validating information from villagers purporting that sympathizers of Abu Toraife, leader of one of three factions in the BIFF, were responsible for the atrocity.Toraife, also known as Esmael Abdulmalik, and his men were driven away from their lairs in Maguindanao province last September by forces of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front following six weeks of hostilities that exacted fatalities on both sides.The MILF’s operation against Toraife and his followers was in keeping with its ceasefire accord with the government.The interim security pact enjoins both sides to cooperate in maintaining law and order in conflict flash point areas in Mindanao.