Islamic leaders nix online mudslinging ahead of BARMM polls

COTABATO CITY – Muslim religious leaders in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) have called for an end to digital mudslinging or online attacks as the election period for the historic Bangsamoro Parliamentary Elections (BPE) draws near.

The Commission on Elections set the election period for the first parliamentary polls from July 16 until September 29, when a gun ban will also be in effect.

READ: Comelec sees 100% turnout in voting simulation exercises for BARMM polls

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During the recent First Bangsamoro Ulama (Islamic scholars) Summit here, the religious leaders passed a resolution urging a stop to the rampant political mudslinging on social media against the leadership of the MILF and the Bangsamoro Government, headed by Ahod “ Al Haj Murad” Ebrahim and Abdulraof Macacua, respectively.

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Ebrahim headed the Bangsamoro Government from 2019 until last year after President Marcos appointed Macacua, a development that the MILF Central Committee resented, citing lack of consultation.

The front early last month suspended Macacua as the chief-of-staff of the Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces, the MILF’s armed wing, for “defiance and insubordination.”

“There is a need to safeguard the internal front from manifestations of division, mend the rift among leadership, and curtail societal conflicts and digital mudslinging,” the resolution stated.

“These are precisely what necessitated this blessed summit, in pursuit of ensuring the sustainability of peace and stability, protecting the Islamic identity in the region, and building a prosperous, stable society based on justice and development,” it added.

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The Bangsamoro Darul Ifta’, the region’s Islamic advisory council, organized the Ulama summit.

Dr. Muhammad Nadzir Ebil, an Islamic scholar and member of Bangsamoro Darul Ifta’, said the resolution calls for unified action against digital mudslinging on social media.

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The resolution pointed out that “there is a massive disinformation campaign ahead of the BPE that might affect the integrity of the political exercises.”/coa

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