Mayor tells Muslims: Celebrate Christmas with Christians
ByBen O. Tesiorna

DAVAO -- City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte treated Monday about 1,500 Muslim leaders in the city to a lunch cum Christmas party, his own way of inviting more than 120,000 Muslim residents to join the celebration of Christmas regardless of religious beliefs.

In his message, Duterte urged the Muslim community to be one with the rest of the Dabawenyos in celebrating the Yuletide season.

As a gift, Duterte informed the Muslim leaders that the city had already purchased two lots--in Catigan and Bunawan--that will be used as Muslim cemeteries.

Duterte also encouraged the Muslim community to take advantage of the land acquisition program of his administration.

He said they still have about P79 million for buying private lands that would be given to landless Dabawenyos.

"Pag may nakita kayong lupang binebenta sabihan nyo ako at bibilhin ko yan para sa inyo," Duterte told the Muslim leaders.

Several appliances were also raffled off to the lucky winners while seven devout Muslims were also chosen to an all-expense-paid pilgrimage to Mecca courtesy of the City Government.

Ustadz Mahmuod Adilao, Ulama league regional coordinator, expressed his gratitude to Duterte for his various programs for the Muslim community in Davao City.

He said it is only under the administration of Duterte that the Muslim community gets equal treatment.

Among the projects of Duterte for the Muslim community is the establishment of 58 city-sponsored madrazahs all over the city with an annual budget of P8 million.

The city also sponsors a Mecca pilgrimage of five devout Muslims every year.

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