The Davao City Muslim Affairs Office (DCMAO), in partnership with the Task Force Davao and the City Government of Davao Madrasah Comprehensive Development Promotion Unit (CMCDP), conducted on Thursday, November 7, 2024, the 2nd Ulama Peace Summit 2024 at the Grand Manseng Hotel.
The main theme of the event is “Countering Online Radicalization Strengthening the Ulama’s Role in Digital and Community Based- Peace Building”.
CMCDP Executive Director Alim Abdul Rhaman Caderao, in an interview with the City Information Office, said that the scholars, clerics, and religious leaders of the Muslim communities in Davao City gathered to learn more about online radicalization, which has become rampant in other areas.
“Yung mga nag-iinstigate ng violent extremism, they are just one click away, for us to be able to define that, for us to be able to combat that kaya kami nag pa-participate sa summit na ito (Those who instigate violent extremism, they are just one click away, for us to be able to define that, for us to be able to combat that we participate in this summit),” Caderao said.
He said that awareness of topics on digital threats and radicalization is essential as it affects the peaceful co-existence of Muslims and Non-Muslims in Davao City. Caderao said that once equipped, these leaders hopefully could re-echo the learnings in the community and grassroots.
Task Force Davao Commander Col. Darren Comia, in an interview with the CIO, said that the youth are primarily online users and are the identified vulnerable community of these cybersecurity issues and radicalization, which is why they tap the key leaders in the community.
“Nag si-share sila ng things sa kanilang community we would like to ask them to cascade ang topic na ito about cybersecurity and radicalization sa community, especially sa vulnerable communities such as the youth kasi ang youth kasi ngayon more on cyber na, more Internet-based, mapansin natin now and then nandoon sila sa telepono nila, sa laptop nila (They are the ones who share messages in their community and we would like for them to cascade these topics on cybersecurity and radicalization in the community, especially in the youth because today they are more on cyber—more Internet-based, you can observe now and then they are looking at their phones or laptops),” Comia said.
Comia said that so far, they have not monitored cases of online radicalization in Davao City, which has prospered, and they are hoping and praying that it will not happen. “Sa ngayon wala tayong physical threat, sa ngayon wala tayong local terrorist operating in Davao Region, Davao City in particular. Worried lang tayo because the recruitment sa cyber baka magkaroon ng homegrown terrorists mas mahirap hanapin yan. Prevention is better than cure still, kaya tayo nagkakaroon ng mga forum na ganito, mga summit na ito, cascading the awareness and asking the help and support ng ating mga sectors (For now we do not have physical threat, local terrorists operating in Davao Region, Davao City in particular. We are just worried because the recruitment is now cyber, it may lead to the creation of homegrown terrorists, which would be much harder to find. Prevention is better than cure. Still, that is the reason why we conduct forums such as this and summits to cascade awareness and to ask for support from our sectors),” he said.
Comia, in his speech during the event, acknowledged the help and support of the Muslim community in the culture of security and peace and order efforts. He said during an interview that regular anti-terrorism forums in all sectors, regular meetings with deputy mayors, and Kulturavan are among the culture of security efforts they are also conducting in partnership with communities.
Meanwhile, DCMAO Head Gabriel F. Nakan, who is also the deputy mayor of the Maguidanaon Tribe, in an interview with the CIO, declared that they are making sure that the Muslim Community is well aware and well represented in discussions that affect their community.
He said that the Ulama Peace Summit is only one of the activities like workshops and seminars to strengthen the role of Muslims in the Peace and Order in Davao City. “Ang focus natin ngayon is peace and security pa rin as always, without peace and security maglisud ta og promote sa other areas(Our focus now is peace and security because, without it, it will be hard to promote others areas) Nakan said, adding that they will continue to do their best to achieve this advocacy. CIO
