Extremism in focus for ASEAN forum

WITH the recent report of the National Commission for Muslim Filipinos (NCMF) and the Anti Terrorism Council (ATC) indicating the alleged operations of Saudi-inspired institutions in the city, representatives from the Regional Peace and Order Council might attend the ASEAN conference in Manila next week on Peace and the Prevention of Violent Extremism in Southeast Asia.

Some 300 representatives of civil society, government and various sectoral groups will gather in Manila on 22nd and 23rd for the conference.

Organized by the Philippine Center for Islam and Democracy (PCID) and the ASEAN Society-Philippines (ASP), in partnership with the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process and the Rajanatram School for International Studies.

The conference seeks to elicit perspectives on these challenges, as well as enable the exchange of best practices that focus on the prevention and countering of violent extremism in the region.

Based on the earlier

presentation of the NCMF and ATC, it alleged some of the graduates from learning institutions in Baguio have been involved in illegal acts in Zamboanga City.

Baguio City Mayor Mauricio Domogan earlier stressed the need to study and confirm through data, reports of alleged Saudiinspired institutions operating in the city who are involved in political and religious extremism and radicalism.

Domogan hopes the Muslim community in the city would take any action done by the local officials objectively.

“It is not from us Baguio City who have said there are certain signs and symptoms of certain teaching establishments which are somewhat leaning to radicalization,” the chief executive said.

Domogan is set to bring the matter to the attention of the Muslim community in the city to help find ways on how to stop the alleged questionable activities of the Saudi-inspired learning institutions.