Catholics afraid to attend mass due to extremist threats in Philippines

Jardine Malado Monday, August 22, 2016

Fr. Sebastiano D'Ambra, an Italian missionary in Mindanao, Philippines, says that Catholics are afraid to attend mass because of constant extremist threats. Aside from terrorism,

D'Ambra shared such to Aid to Church in Need (ACN), and added that there are "geopolitical and military interests" that are making the situation in the region more complex. "Before, the Philippines was a dream place for interreligious dialogue; there was complete harmony. But now the situation has changed completely," D'Ambra told ACN.

Immaculate Conception Cathedral in Zamboanga City | Wikimedia Commons/Vernon G Stamm thru Wowzamboangacity

D'Ambra founded the Sisilah Forum 30 years ago in Zamboanga City to build up dialogue between Christians and Muslims.

"The threats from the Islamists are constant in the south of the country, above all on the island of Jolo," said D'Ambra. The priest had a firsthand experience of violence from the extremist when the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) attacked Zamboanga City in 2013. D'Ambra also noted that Christians are living in fear despite the presence of the army.

Aside from the MNLF, other groups are also committing acts of terror and threatening in the region. In April, Al Jazeera reported that the terrorist group Abu Sayyaf beheaded one of the tourists they kidnapped in September 2015. A plastic bag containing the head of the tourist was thrown on the streets of Samal Island. In June, the Islamic State released a video declaring the Philippines a caliphate, as reported by The Star Malaysia.

Despite D'Ambra's observations, the International Crisis Group (ICC) reported in July that peace in Mindanao is closer than ever. "The southern Philippines is potentially closer to peace than at any time in the four decades since Muslim insurgents started fighting for independence, but the substantial progress over the past six years is also fragile," read the introduction to the report.

The ICC report was released a few weeks after Rodrigo Duterte took office. Duterte is the first president to be elected from Mindanao and the report mentioned that he was the most vocal supporter for a peace deal during the campaign season.

The report also made recommendations to the parties involved in the conflict including the Philippine government, MNLF, Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), and international donors and partners to maintain the momentum of the peace process the parties.