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| President Rodrigo Duterte kisses the ground of Jolo, Sulu blast site showing respect and honor to the fallen soldiers and those civilians who were victims of the twin bombing on August 24. (Photo from: Senator Bong Go) |
[아시아뉴스통신=조날드 타파난 기자] President Rodrigo Duterte’s ‘kissed on the ground’ gesture at the blast site in Jolo, Sulu on August 30 has earned praises from various Muslim personalities.
Datu Mussolini Lidasan, the executive director of the Al Qalam Institute, the research arm of the Ateneo de Davao University, said in an interview on Tuesday the gesture of the President showed the real intent of Duterte in building the nation.
“For us Muslims, the gesture of PRRD is what we call ‘Sujud’ or ‘to prostrate’. Bowing down and prostrating to Allah several times a day during daily prayer is a key element of our faith, and a sign of humility to Allah,” Lidasan told in an interview.
He added that since 2016 when he was elected as the President, the President has "always been consistent" in bringing lasting peace in Mindanao. This was evident, he said, with the passage of the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL), which he said reflected the President's commitment to the Bangsamoro peace process.
Meanwhile, Jimmy Musa, Development Management Officer III of the Mindanao Development Authority’s (MinDA) Public Relations Division, said the gesture did not only show respect and condolences to the families of the victims and the wounded, but also as an acknowledgment to the "grief and sadness" of the Bangsamoro communities that have been longing and working hard for lasting peace in Mindanao.
