Maguindanao residents pray for peaceful registrations

AMIEL MARK CAGAYAN, Reporter and Videographer
ARTHA KIRA PAREDES, Writer

DATU PIANG, Maguindanao—For weeks now, parishioners of the church in Datu Piang, Maguindanao have been praying for a peaceful conduct of the general voters’ registrations, now on its last day in the Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

The 300 or so Catholic families who hear mass at the Sta. Teresita Parish Church have been offering special intentions for peace.

Parish priest Ben Gomez said part of their community prayers include the protection of registrants and the enlightenment of political leaders.

The church was re-consecrated in 2010, two years after it was burned unidentified teenagers who were allegedly using illegal substance. Photo by AMIEL MARK CAGAYAN.

Every Sunday, the registration schedules are announced to inform and encourage churchgoers, he said.

In what seems like a sign that their prayers have been answered, not a single untoward incident has been heard of.

Datu Piang is identified as one of the perennial election hotspots.

In 2008, it had the biggest number of internally displaced persons when conflict ensued between the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and the military.As a reminder of that conflict, 17 empty shells of 105 millimeter Howitzer mortars recycled as lampshades now decorate its ceiling and walls.

(ARMM WATCH is a project of VERA Files in partnership with MindaNews, The Asia Foundation and Australian Agency for International Development.)

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