Bishops-Ulama holds historic conference in Jolo

A FIRST-EVER assembly of Bishops-Ulama Conference (BUC) was held in the conflict-ridden city of Jolo, Sulu against the backdrop of a possible threat of kidnapping from the notorious Abu Sayyaf group.

Regarded as historic, the BUC meeting last November 18-21 gathered 75 BUC members led by the Conference’s three co-convenors—Davao Archbishop Fernando Capalla, UCCP Bishop-emeritus Hilario Gomez, Jr., and Ulama League of the Philippines President Aleem Aboali Cali.

Jolo Apostolic Vicar Angelito Lampon, OMI said the meeting was indeed “historical because for the first time it happened in Jolo.”

He said holding the assembly in Jolo was a strong statement from the bishops to the people to sit down and dialogue for the attainment of peace.

The meeting involved participation of 40 lay leaders from the apostolic vicariate.
Lampon said the general idea of holding the meeting in Jolo was to consult the grassroots of their concerns and ask their suggestions on how and what can be done to attain peace in Mindanao.

In a joint statement after the meeting, the BUC renewed its call to end hostilities and pursue the peace process. It likewise urged the government to build up its efforts to stop kidnapping in the area.

“We renew our call for the cessation of all hostilities in order to create a climate of peace where diverse voices can confidently be expressed and sincerely heard. And on the recent violence committed by rebel groups in some areas of Mindanao, let the force of law be applied with justice that leads to peace,” the statement read.

The religious leaders also pledged to continue promote community and sectoral dialogues.

“While we continue with interfaith activities, we shall also pursue authentic intrafaith dialogues among our own communities. We hope that through this open communication, we will find a way to face our own share in the prolonged problem in Mindanao as well as discover how we could go beyond hurts and biases,” the BUC said.

The BUC said that the local communities are simple people who only dream of simple things in life like having “farm to market roads, books and classroom for their children, and other basic services.”

The religious gathering was spearheaded in collaboration with Bishop Angelito Lampon, and the local government unit of Jolo.

The local police and military and MNLF leaders have provided the delegates security during the assembly.